ARMY SPECIAL FORCES IN THE ALASKAN ARCTIC

Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) are poorly manned, trained, organized, and equipped to conduct sustained operations in the Arctic. ARSOF currently conducts “Arctic Tourism”: misaligned and episodic training combined with personnel policies that dilute Arctic expertise and limit institutional knowledge and unit capability. This is compounded by the strained relationship between the U.S. government and Alaska Native communities, denying the U.S. military Arctic expertise and presenting a gap for malign influence. To address this issue, we examined the question: How can the United States Army Special Operations Command influence policy, improve strategy, and optimize readiness in the Alaskan Arctic in support of the 2022 NDS and NSS, 2019 DOD Arctic Strategy, and the 2022 Army Arctic Strategy? Through Arctic training events, conferences, and case studies, we determined ARSOF currently does not have a dedicated formation to provide Arctic capability or capacity. Historical U.S. and current Canadian indigenous units provide models for an Alaskan homeland defense and domain awareness force, but current cultural and political conditions prohibit implementation. Our main recommendation is that an Alaska-based National Guard Special Forces unit provides the best means to establish ARSOF Arctic capability, mend relationships with Alaska Natives for a potential indigenous homeland defense organization, and build future capacity to project power in Arctic regions abroad.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Major, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyMajor, United States Arm