Video

Video by Staff Sgt. Balinda ONeal

Alaska Guardsmen conduct aerial refueling, arctic operations in frozen Beaufort Sea

Alaska National Guard

March 7, 2018 | 1:03

Alaska Guardsmen from the 176th Wing's 210th Rescue Squadron conduct aerial refueling of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter via a 211th RSQ HC-130J Combat King II aircraft several hundred miles north of the Alaskan coastline before landing at Deadhorse March 7, 2018. This training is linked to the Alaska National Guard's Arctic Eagle 2018 and U.S. Navy's Ice Exercise. A number of Department of Defense exercises afford participating forces the opportunity to operate in a joint environment while assessing the ability to conduct sustained operations in arctic conditions including Arctic Eagle 2018, Alaskan Command's Exercise Arctic Edge, the U.S. Army's Arctic Pegasus, and the U.S. Navy's ICEX. ICEX 2018 is a five-week exercise that allows the U.S. Navy to assess its operational readiness in the Arctic, increase experience in the region, advance understanding of the Arctic environment, and continue to develop relationships with other services, allies and partner organizations. The exercises occur in February and March 2018, and dates for each exercise varies.