Arctic Notebook
Washington Times Defense and National Security Correspondent John T. Seward is on assignment in frigid northern Alaska, covering the U.S. Army’s “premier Arctic training exercise.” As tensions rise in the frozen north, Mr. Seward’s reporter’s notebook dispatches go inside his experience observing the American military’s preparation for combat in the sub-zero temperatures.
Recent Stories
'Everything takes longer': Arctic Army exercise grinds on as temperatures plunge to -40
I got the chance to spend the first half of the day in a CAT-V, the Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle. It is a winter warfare vehicle unique to the Arctic units and much more capable than the cars we were driving there to see it.
'The environment is trying to kill you': Day 2 of Special Forces cold weather warfare training
We needed to dress for extremely cold temperatures with little relief. Throughout the day, there would be no tents or buildings nearby to step inside and get warm. Layering in the morning involved effectively three complete sets of clothing.
Frostbite warnings, near white-out conditions and a rescue from a stranger
I'd already been warned that multiple soldiers were removed from the training event I was heading to due to frostbite. Overnight temperatures were flipping the gauge, with temperatures dropping down to -35deg. What I wasn't expecting was how dry it was.
