training in a freezing blizzard

The war of the future will soon be played out here, in this spectacular setting, Alaska. American soldiers, from all over the country, will have to face this hostile environment for two weeks of training, – 31 degrees and an icy blizzard. That morning, this group of officers has a mission: to orient themselves in the mountains for several hours with the only help of a compass and a ruler. If the soldiers know how to find their way in dangerous terrain, they have never experienced extreme cold, and the ordeal seems more difficult than expected. “You can’t even look at the mountains to know where you are. Everything is white, so you never know exactly where you are, on which road, or how long you have been walking“, said one of them.

Transmit to their unit

Because Alaska, at the gates of the North Pole, and opposite Russia, has become one of the priorities of the American army for two years. Operation code name: Reclaiming the Arctic. After 20 years spent fighting in the Middle East, the army now wants to train its soldiers for the conditions of the far North. And that starts with learning to ski. For three quarters of the officers, it is the first time they have been on skis. After a few hours of training, the soldiers begin to master the technique, essential to move quickly against an enemy. Once back at their base, everyone should be able to pass on what they learned in Alaska to their unit.