US special-operations forces went to Alaska in February to train.
The US military is more focused on the northern part of the country, which is growing more accessible.
The US is not the only country with an interest in security in the north.
US special operators are training in environments where they are likely to find themselves engaged in near-peer warfare.
The Navy, Army, Green Berets, and Air Commandos spent almost a month training in the cold in the icy waters of the Arctic.
Special-operations units and conventional units got together in February and March for the US military's flagship Arctic warfare exercise.
Operators from across the US joined conventional forces and local, state, and federal law-enforcement in Alaska.
Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group and 19th Special Forces Group used snowshoes and skis to patrol along the ocean and the Strait of Malacca.
The Green Berets trained with the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. In a homeland-defense scenario, the Special Forces operators worked with local and federal law enforcement.
The Navy's special-reconnaissance training included honing their survival skills. Navy SWCC operators practiced defending critical infrastructure.
One of the most interesting parts of training was a free-fall jump into an ice flow in the Arctic Ocean and link up with a Los Angeles-class attack submarine taking part in the biennial Ice Exercise.
The US Air Force provided support to conventional units and special-operations elements during the drills.
The special-operations aspects of the exercise were overseen by the US Special Operations Command North.
Special Operations forces tested equipment and looked at innovative ways to thrive in the northern part of the world.
Satterfield highlighted that special operators trained for specific mission sets but also developed relationships with local communities, including Alaskan natives, to gain knowledge from their techniques, practices and procedures on how they succeed in the cold weather.
It is taking on renewed importance for US national security as it becomes more accessible.
US special operations have been training inside and outside of the region in order to get a better idea of what to expect there.
The Special Operations Winter Mountain Operator course is conducted twice a year in Colorado.
Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group, which has Europe as its area of responsibility, attend the course.
True to its name, SOWMOC focuses on mountain and winter warfare. Winter-warfare survival skills include how to navigate in snowy conditions, and small-unit tactics for anarctic setting, as well as how to infiltrate and exfiltrate winter-warfare environments using skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles.
The US is not the only country with a security interest in the north.
Special Operations Command North continues to strengthen relationships with foreign special-operations units.
Our partners and allies are crucial to our mission. Satterfield said that we train and coordinate with Canadian SOF and that the Danes observed the edge of the ocean.
The rich resources and more direct maritime routes in the Circle are turning into prime real estate.
The US shares the region with six allies and one of its major enemies, Russia. China has shown interest in the region, describing itself as a "near-Arctic state" and sending observers to meetings of the council.
The US military will only increase its interest in the northern part of the country due to the increasing competition with Russia and China.
We want to partner with allies that are interested in protecting our lands. Satterfield said partnerships are critical in building all-domain awareness.
A defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran, and a graduate of the University of Baltimore, are some of the things that Stavros Atlamazoglou is.
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