Sustaining Military Operations in the Arctic

For a number of reasons, the Arctic region is seeing a significant increase in maritime activity and the potential for that increase to continue in the future. While currently, the U.S. military role in the Arctic is limited, strategic and operational level leaders within the U.S. have recognized that as Arctic activity increases, so too will the requirement for a U.S. military presence in the Arctic. The military does not have the current capabilities which will be needed to conduct sustained operations in the Arctic. Through my research, I have identified several capability gaps which would limit the military's ability to sustain operations in the Arctic. While long term solutions do exist, they would require substantial economic commitments by the U.S. Government. Considering todays financial realities, these commitments are quite unfeasible. Mitigation strategies do exist; however, through the capabilities which our international partners, interagency, and industry possess. By leveraging such capabilities, stakeholders could build the capacity through a sharing of resources and knowledge to meet the challenges that the sustainment of Arctic operations present. This paper proposes, that by institutionalizing these relationships within a Joint Interagency Task Force North concept, theU.S. would establish a standing organization focused on Arctic military issues and a means of meeting the requirements as they emerge.