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U.S. Army CH-47's (Chinook) assigned to 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Arctic Aviation Command, 11th Airborne Division, fly for an air assault operation during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 on Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division, conduct a nighttime air assault during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 in Yukon Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. JPMRC is designed to prepare and validate forces for large-scale combat operations (LSCO) in an extreme cold-weather environment, enhancing readiness and operational capabilities in the strategically vital Arctic region.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kylee Marshall)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A U.S. Army CH-47 (Chinook) crew chief assigned to 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Arctic Aviation Command, 11th Airborne Division, communicates with his crew for an air assault operation during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 in Manchu Landing Zone on the Yukon Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division, move towards their equipment for an air assault during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 in Manchu Landing Zone on Ladd Army Airfield in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL
YUKON TRAINING AREA, Alaska — Under clear Arctic skies and in the cover of darkness, Soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division, executed a nighttime air assault to counter an opposing force airborne insertion during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02.
As temperatures dropped and snow reached waist-deep across the landing zone, CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters cut through the frozen air, delivering Arctic Angels into a contested battlefield. Rotors churned powder into near whiteout conditions as aircraft touched down, forcing Soldiers to rapidly orient themselves while maintaining momentum against a thinking and adaptive enemy.
Moments after landing, air assault troops and snow machine teams pushed outward from the landing zone, closing distance with the opposing force. Small unit leaders directed rapid movement through deep snow, balancing speed with control as visibility fluctuated under rotor wash and blowing powder. Soldiers transitioned from aircraft to ground maneuver within minutes, engaging simulated enemy elements while establishing security and defensive sectors.
Operating in Arctic winter conditions required detailed coordination between aviation and ground forces by combining vertical lift and over the snow mobility air assault techniques. Crews navigated with limited light and challenging terrain while ground elements synchronized movement and maintained tactical surprise.
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A U.S. Army CH-47 (Chinook) pilot assigned to 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Arctic Aviation Command, 11th Airborne Division, flys to the training area for an air assault operation during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division, drive snowmachines towards the aircraft during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 in Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army CH-47's (Chinook) assigned to 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Arctic Aviation Command, 11th Airborne Division, fly to the training area for an air assault operation during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Air Assault), 11th Airborne Division, pull their ahiko sled for an air assault during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 in Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 13, 2026. The 11th Airborne Division is setting the standard for Arctic readiness, demonstrating the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in this challenging environment.
(Photo Credit: Spc. Brandon VasquezU.S. Army photo by Spc. Brandon Vasquez)VIEW ORIGINAL
Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotations provide realistic, force-on-force training designed to test units against capable opponents in complex terrain. By integrating airborne and air assault operations during JPMRC 26-02, Arctic Angels refined expeditionary capabilities essential to the division’s mission in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions.
As the engagement unfolded, Soldiers established defensive positions to deny freedom of maneuver to opposing forces while preparing for follow-on operations. The coordinated response showcased the lethality and adaptability of the 11th Airborne Division, reinforcing its role as the Army’s premier Arctic-focused formation capable of rapid deployment and sustained operations in extreme cold.
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