Air National Guard Arctic Training
An Air National Guard Airmen helps build a thermal shelter using limited supplies and materials found in nature during the Air National Guard's Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Feb. 4, 2025. 70 class participants representing 37 wings from 27 states traveled on foot in subzero temperatures, to build camps featuring either a 10-man Arctic tent or thermal shelters made from materials found in nature. Students were mostly Security Forces specialists, but also included a Maintenance Group Commander, Physician Assistant, Cyber Communications Specialist, and a Public Affairs Specialist. The 2-week course featured a six-day, five-night field training exercise, taught service members to conduct mission-essential tasking in extreme cold environments.