Improving U.S. Posture in the Arctic

• Main Authors: Ohotnicky, Peter, Hisey, Braden, Todd, Jessica
• Other Authors: NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV FORT MCNAIR DC
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Geography; Military Forces and Organizations; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *CLIMATE CHANGE; *DEFENSE SYSTEMS; *NATIONAL SECURITY; AIR POWER; ALASKA; ARMY; COLD WAR; CONFLICT; ENVIRONMENTS; HISTORY; ICE; MELTING; ORGANIZATIONS; POLICIES; REPRINTS; STRATEGY; UNITED STATES; WARFARE; WEAPON SYSTEMS; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Climate change; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA619885; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA619885

The United States became an Arctic nation when it purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. Since then, the U.S. military has had a presence in this vast territory. Indeed, both the U.S. Army and Navy were responsible for administration of the territory in the course of its history. Alaska has been the site of World War II battles and Cold War conflict. Air power pioneer Brigadier General Billy Mitchell went so far as to testify during 1935 congressional hearings that Alaska is the most strategic place in the world. Until this point, the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska has been easily protected and of limited strategic importance due to the ice that has shielded it, impeding both access and use. Now the ice is melting, creating new opportunities and potential threats to U.S. national interests. This shift in the geopolitical environment requires prompt reexamination of U.S. military capabilities, roles, responsibilities, organizations, and command structure in Alaska. To ensure that U.S. national interests in the Arctic are met, the United States needs a realigned subunified command in Alaska that is empowered, resourced, and organized to coordinate the implementation of national and Department of Defense (DOD) Arctic strategy within the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). Published in Joint Force Quarterly issue 67 4th quarter p56-62, 2012.