SODANKYLÄ, Finland — The Arctic Circle is known for its harsh and unforgiving environment where temperatures drop far below freezing for months.
In this northern part of the world, 100 Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) put their mental toughness and cold weather training to the test in Arctic Forge 25, which took place in Sodankylä.
The exercise, which occurred from Feb. 17 to Feb. 28, 2025, is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa exercise. It demonstrated the quick response capabilities needed to assist allies on the northeastern flank in a crisis response.
The 10th Mountain Soldiers traveled over 3,000 miles from Fort Drum, New York to Fort Wainwright, Alaska linking in with the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, and the Third Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment as well as trainers with the Finnish army to prepare for Arctic Forge 25.
“It’s a great opportunity to have the multinational element for this exercise and build a team here at Fort Wainwright,” said Capt. Nicholas Steinmetz, the operations planner for 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.
The training in Alaska prepared the Soldiers to confront the Arctic and taught them how to survive and operate in the environment.
“You don't know how you're going to react to the cold or how you're going to survive and thrive in that environment until you face it," said Sgt. Dennis Butcher, a senior medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI).
The training in Alaska allowed Soldiers to become confident in their abilities to operate in extremely cold weather environments before making another 3000-mile journey to support the newest NATO ally, Finland.
“Coming from Alaska to Finland, it's more like Fort Drum, you can pack the snow but it's knee-deep,” 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). “If we can adapt to that, we can be effective in any arctic battlefield.”
With the Arctic Circle gaining more attention from adversaries it has become crucial to ensure Soldiers are ready for any potential conflict.
“Understanding and mastering your environment was part of the training for our Soldiers,” said Capt. Spencer Cavotti, company commander for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “To come here and learn how to best use their weapons systems and communicate across the battlefield only makes us more lethal.”
Being lethal and creating readiness in the Arctic is a skill Finnish soldiers have acquired over decades of fighting and living in the environment. The Finnish Army is known for its expertise in operating in extreme cold weather and was ready to pass that knowledge to the visiting troops. Soldiers were taught by instructors from the Finnish Army, who came from different regions of Finland.
“There is a small window of opportunity to give all of our best knowledge to the Soldiers,” said Sgt. Erno Vuolahti, a technical driving instructor with the Finnish Army. “Teamwork and cohesiveness are important so everybody sees the same goal.”
Working together with Finnish Army instructors, U.S. Soldiers were taught how to drive a Bandvagn 206, a Small Unit Support vehicle and snow machines. These types of vehicles are the most common form of transportation and maneuverability when operating in arctic conditions.
Soldiers had the opportunity to set up Finnish tents along with learning skiing techniques and shooting the Finnish RK 62 Assault Rifle through the various lessons provided at the exercise. The challenge of operating in a new environment and acquiring skills was a welcome opportunity for Soldiers.
“It was something new to try and allows you to better yourself and become a better Soldier and leader,” said Sgt. Ilan Novikov, a combat engineer assigned to the 41st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. (LI)
During the exercise, Canadian soldiers worked alongside 10th Mountain Division (LI) and 11th Airborne Division Soldiers encountering the same challenges and learning the same skills. The training provided by the Finnish Army showcased the interoperability of multiple nations working together.
“I feel like an exercise like this solidifies our bond as a NATO fighting force and it demonstrates we can project immense combat power to support our allies,” said 1st Sgt Thomas Banner, senior enlisted advisor for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI).
The training emphasized the quick response of troops and gear as well. This marked the first time a Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle was moved overseas in support of a NATO ally. The vehicle provided by the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, is an example of the joint and multinational operations the armed forces can achieve.
“It provided us the opportunity to test our deployment capabilities, train our leaders in deployment operations, and prove that whenever the call comes for us to deploy, we can arrive at a moment's notice with all of our equipment ready to fight,” Cavotti said.
The exercise concluded with a three-day field training event including a force-on-force combat simulation. With the Finnish army acting as the opposition force, the U.S. and Canadian soldiers were the defending force. Serving as the defending force taught the Soldiers how to apply the skills they learned and use them in the training environment.
“I knew we were ready to fight in the Arctic when our Soldiers transitioned from fighting the environment to fighting in the environment,” Cavotti said. “They relied on their training, equipment, and themselves to thrive out in the force-on-force exercise.”
The field training marked the end of the exercise and it concluded a long journey for Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division (LI), 11th Airborne Division, and the Third Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.
“I’m extremely fortunate for this opportunity and so is the rest of my troop, it's great to be in a different country on a small deployment and train with our partner forces,” said Capt. Turner Shaw, commander for Apex Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. “I have nothing but great things to say, the Finnish army has been extremely hospitable and we are extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to go train with them.”
For the Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division it was a privilege for them to participate in the 2nd iteration of Arctic Forge.
“It’s an honor to represent the legacy and heritage of the 10th Mountain Division here in Finland amongst our NATO allies,” Cavotti said. “With each iteration, our confidence and trust between the Division and the Jaeger Brigade continues to grow and just proves we are stronger together as allies.”
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