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Special Operations Command North

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How can SOF best prepare for future operations in the Arctic? What does the enlargement of NATO to include Finland and Sweden mean for the region? What are the interoperability requirements between SOF and conventional forces operating in the region, such as Coast Guard icebreakers and Navy submarines? Are there new capabilities or technologies that are required for operations in this environment? What can U.S. SOF learn from allies and partners that routinely operate in the Arctic? How might SOF best work with the USG interagency, as well as allies and partners, to understand and partner with Arctic peoples? 

  • Bonomi, LCDR Eric J., "Falling Behind in the Arctic: The Inadequacy of the United States Military's Arctic Maritime Presence," AFGC thesis, 2025.
    • To meet the interoperability requirements of the broader U.S. joint force, Bonomi argues that icebreakers must be equipped with state-of-the-art command and control (C2) and secure communications systems capable of seamlessly linking with any DOD asset or command structure. Furthermore, he asserts that a modernized fleet of 15 militarized icebreakers outfitted with flight decks for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as the ability to rapidly deploy armed boarding teams, will provide the flexible, interoperable maritime infrastructure required to support joint operations and maintain regional stability in the austere Arctic environment.
  • Collinge, Matthew, "Defending the Ice: United States Capabilities and Interests in an Evolving Arctic Region," AF Global College thesis, 2024, 44 pgs. 
    • ​​​​​​​The paper provides broad insights into U.S. military operations in the Arctic, noting that the NATO enlargement to include Finland adds critical Arctic territory, operational experience, and a deep understanding of Russian tactics that strengthens the alliance against adversaries. To prepare for regional challenges and improve interoperability, the U.S. military must expand joint military exercises with NATO allies focusing on cold-weather operations, joint surveillance, and search-and-rescue. To operate effectively in this harsh environment, new technologies and capabilities are required, specifically the expansion of the U.S. icebreaker fleet, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite monitoring, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and drones. Finally, to successfully partner with Arctic peoples, the U.S. must collaborate with indigenous communities to leverage their generations of traditional ecological knowledge for conservation planning and sustainable practices.
  • Hodges, Maj. Daniel, "Competing in the North: Best Use for Special Operations Forces in the Arctic," AFGC thesis, 2024, 61 pgs. 
    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Hodges argues that to best prepare for future operations, SOF must move beyond short-term "Arctic tourism" and commit to year-round, realistic training, potentially by establishing a dedicated joint special operations task force (JSOTF-Arctic). The enlargement of NATO to include Finland and Sweden solidifies the organization as a dominant Arctic military alliance, encompassing all permanent Arctic Council members except Russia, which provides a massive geographic deterrent to Russian northern ambitions. Regarding interoperability between SOF and conventional forces, recent exercises have successfully demonstrated SOF inserting onto ice sheets, receiving airdrops from Air National Guard C-130s, and linking up with Navy attack submarines that broke through the ice. Because the U.S. lacks dedicated Arctic units, U.S. SOF must learn from and train alongside allies who possess inherent Arctic survival skills, specifically units like the Canadian Rangers and the Danish Sirius Patrol. To work with the interagency and Arctic peoples, SOF should utilize Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) and integrate directly with local governmental and tribal agencies to build relationships and prepare the operational environment.
  • Schneider, Maj. Scott, "Future of Thule Air Base: When Greenland Gains Independence," ACSC elective paper (Dilemmas of Global Basing), 2020, 10 pgs.