A 10th Mountain Division (LI) patch is covered in snow before snow machine training organized by the Finnish army during Arctic Forge 25, in the Sodankylä Training Area, Finland, Feb. 21, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. U.S. troops have the skills to survive and fight in these austere conditions. Arctic Forge 25 is an opportunity to hone these skills further and gain valuable knowledge from Arctic Allies.

Pfc. William Hicks, a combat engineer assigned to 63rd, Combat Engineer Company, 41st Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), fires an RK 62, a Finnish assault rifle, on Sodankyla Training Area, Finland during Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 22. 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. Arctic Forge 25 ensures that U.S. joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

SODANKYLÄ TRAINING AREA, Finland — Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), recently initiated movement from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to arrive in Finland to commence training for Arctic Forge 25.

Arctic Forge 25 is a biennial U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise that began Feb. 17 and ended Feb. 28, 2025. The exercise leverages Arctic host nation events — Local Defense Exercise 25 in Finland and Joint Viking 25 in Norway — to build Arctic readiness and interoperability in support of the U.S. Army's Arctic Strategy.

“Going from Alaska to Finland I was a little nervous but excited. It took a lot of effort and planning to move to a different country, and it was executed very well,” said Sgt. Ilan Novikov, a combat engineer assigned to the 41st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “It’s important that we stay deployable and ready to move at a moment’s notice, which is exactly what we’ve achieved."

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Thomas Banner, center, the senior enlisted leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), gives a brief before deploying to Sodankylä Training Area, Finland, during Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 25, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. Arctic Forge 25 ensures that U.S. joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

A Finnish soldier discusses basic driving operations for a drivers training class during Arctic Forge 25, at Sodankylä Training Area, Finland, Feb. 20, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. Arctic Forge 25 is a multi-lateral demonstration of cooperation, collaboration, integration, and solidarity to promote peace and security.

Soldiers jumped into the exercise by breaking off into groups for different training courses, starting with drivers training on Small Unit Support Vehicles and Leopard 2 A4 Main Battle Tank familiarization led by the Finnish Army.

Learning how to operate military vehicles requires a certain amount of concentration and teachability from each driver, as they must quickly adapt to complex systems, and stay focused in arctic environments to ensure both their safety and the success of the mission.

“The most important thing is to approach everyone on their level, there are different skills and experiences of each driver,” said Sgt. Erno Vuolahti, a technical driving instructor with the Finnish army. “So it can't be a head-on attack, ease into it in the beginning and then toughen it up towards the end.”

Capt. Otto Känsälä, a liaison officer with the Finnish Jeager Brigade, center, teaches Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and 11th Airborne Division, how to cut wood for the stove tent to be placed in the Finnish tents during Arctic Forge 25, in the Sodankylä Training Area, Finland, Feb. 20, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. Arctic Forge 25 ensures that U.S. joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

A Finnish soldier talks to Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion,14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), on how to properly set up a Finnish tent during Arctic Forge 25, in the Sodankylä Training Area, Finland, Feb. 20, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. Arctic Forge 25 ensures that U.S. joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

The multinational facet of Arctic Forge 25 is a great opportunity for NATO forces to come together, learn their differences in operations, and enhance synergy, fostering stronger cooperation and shared tactics in diverse environments.

“The multinational aspect is a positive challenge,” said Vuolahti. “The language, the new alliance, getting to know each other, seeing how we all do things and try to bring the best of both worlds together.”

Operating in the Arctic is no easy task, but the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers have embraced this challenge and adapted to the harsh conditions, showcasing resiliency and ability to accomplish the mission.

“This exercise gives you the opportunity to better yourself, become a better Soldier and a better leader,” said Novikov.

Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) utilize skis provided by the Finnish Jaeger Brigade to relocate to a weapons range on Sodankylä Training Area, Finland during Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 22. 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. U.S. troops have the skills to survive and fight in these austere conditions. Arctic Forge 25 is an opportunity to hone these skills further and gain valuable knowledge from Arctic Allies.

Spc. James Rodriguez, a combat engineer assigned to 63rd, Combat Engineer Company, 41st Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), charges an RK 62, a Finnish assault rifle on Sodankyla Training Area, Finland during Arctic Forge 25 Feb. 22, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. U.S. troops have the skills to survive and fight in these austere conditions. Arctic Forge 25 is an opportunity to hone these skills further and gain valuable knowledge from Arctic Allies.

Experiencing the noncommissioned officer corps from Finland, NATO’s newest member, opens a door for enhanced cross-cultural leadership development, and expanding the advancement of Soldiers.

“Seeing how the NCO Corps works from the NATO forces allows me to bring what I've learned back to my Soldiers home to make them better leaders for the future,” said Novikov.

Partaking in an Arctic exercise of this multitude strengthens lethality amongst the U.S. Army and gives a wealth of knowledge that can be spread to many other Soldiers.

“As a junior enlisted it’s eye-opening coming from Fort Drum to Alaska and then to Finland,” said Pfc. Nicholas Delegarza, a combat engineer assigned to the 63rd Combat Engineer Company, 41st Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “The difference in weather, it being negative temperatures in Alaska, and the difference in the type of snow from there to Finland, if we can adapt to this, we can be more effective in any arctic battlefield.”

Soldiers assigned to the 11th Airborne Division fire the RK 62, a Finnish assault rifle in the Sodankylä Training Area, Finland during Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 22, 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. U.S. troops have the skills to survive and fight in these austere conditions. Arctic Forge 25 is an opportunity to hone these skills further and gain valuable knowledge from Arctic Allies.

Spc. Javier Rojas, a combat engineer, assigned to 63rd, Combat Engineer Company, 41st Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, left, and Sgt. Charles Wynn, a forward observer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), execute movement via skis provided by the Finnish Jaeger Brigade to a weapons range on Sodankyla Training Area, Finland, during Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 22. 2025. Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led biennial exercise held in Finland and Norway, from Feb. 17- Feb. 28. U.S. troops have the skills to survive and fight in these austere conditions. Arctic Forge 25 is an opportunity to hone these skills further and gain valuable knowledge from Arctic Allies.

Soldiers' days are meticulously structured, filled with intense training and strategic preparation before beginning the field exercise on Feb. 25. The days leading up to the exercise involved teamwork exercises, briefings, and pre-equipment checks all aimed at improving their decision-making abilities and reinforcing their ability to adapt under pressure. All knowledge and training efforts will be put to the test during the field exercise, where they will face real-world challenges designed to simulate the most challenging and unpredictable situations.

“Being a part of this feels incredible,” stated Sgt. Matthew Bothe, a senior medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “Working with NATO allies, getting this opportunity to bolster not only my nation's military, but also an ally's military as well, is an amazing experience to me.”