Arctic Angels: US paras swap Alaska for Norway as they drop in for Exercise Arctic Shock
Hundreds of American and Norwegian paratroopers have been testing their cold weather capabilities as part of Exercise Arctic Shock.
The US unit involved was the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division - the "Arctic Angels".
Members of the Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) landed onto Lake Takvatnet after jumping from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
"The Arctic is a critical region for power projection and homeland defence," said 11th Airborne Division commander Major General Brian Eifler.
"This type of exercise shows, once again, Alaska's strategic location in the world and the 11th Airborne Division’s strategic value to the Army and the nation.
"We value the chance to work with our allies in the Norwegian Armed Forces and to learn advanced cold weather warfare techniques from their vast experience, while demonstrating our own growing Arctic professionalism.
"Maj Gen [Lars] Lervik [chief of the Norwegian army] and the Norwegian army are great allies, and exercises like this are effective in expanding our Arctic cooperation, practising interoperability and continuing to build our strategic relationships."
Exercise Arctic Shock is a combined US and Norwegian military exercise conducted in support of the National Arctic Strategy.
The five-day exercise is taking place until 22 March in Bardufoss, in the Norwegian county of Troms, and involves 150 American and 100 Norwegian soldiers.
The exercise involves an over-the-North Pole movement from Alaska to Norway, an airborne jump and a field training exercise focused on cold weather capabilities.
This also demonstrates the United States' commitment to defend the High North.
The aim is to enhance multi-combatant command relationships, airborne interoperability and Arctic capabilities.
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