Last August the US was very active in exercising in the High North. The U.S.S Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was in the Norwegian Sea. Two of Ford’s escorts broke off and joined two Norwegian frigates in patrolling the Northern Norwegian coast.

Indo-Pacific Command Northern Edge 2025 which included the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was in the Northern Pacific using the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

Most importantly for the Coast Guard, NORTHCOM conducted Arctic Edge 2025 primarily in Alaska and the surrounding seas. In the early days of any conflict involving Alaska (other than just flying over it) Coast Guard ships and aircraft will be a significant part of those forces NORTHCOM can call upon. Coast Guard ships and aircraft can transport personnel, equipment, and supplies including landing small combat units.

A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 participates in forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operations during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) in Adak, Alaska on Sept. 18, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

When I saw reports of last year’s Operation Noble Defender Exercise run by NORTHCOM in Alaska, I was very disappointed to see no mention of the Coast Guard. So this year I was very pleased to see this.

A joint Marine Corps/Coast Guard team performed a simulated raid on Port MacKenzie, seizing it and reestablishing force flow through the port. The Army’s 3rd Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) opened the unimproved port and led transit operations there.

(I do think they made it too easy on themselves by doing it so close to Anchorage but sometimes it’s necessary. Of course they also made it easy on themselves by having the exercise in August.)

There was no specific mention of Coast Guard units participating in the exercise but the exercise extended the entire month of August. The Canadian frigate HMCS Regina was sighted as participating and we know USCGC Waesche operated with HMCS Regina the last week of August including live fire exercises.

The Navy established a temporary advanced base for MH-60S helicopters at Dutch Harbor, August 17-22.

“During the exercise, the squadron collaborated closely with the Air Force, Coast Guard and Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center personnel recovery experts to coordinate SAR coverage throughout the Aleutian Islands. This ensured smooth integration across commands and enabled HSC-14 to streamline logistics and adapt to Alaska’s unique operational challenges, including extreme weather and limited infrastructure…During the exercise, the squadron collaborated closely with the Air Force, Coast Guard and Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center personnel recovery experts to coordinate SAR coverage throughout the Aleutian Islands. This ensured smooth integration across commands and enabled HSC-14 to streamline logistics and adapt to Alaska’s unique operational challenges, including extreme weather and limited infrastructure.”

It still looks like the surface Navy may never have gotten North of the Aleutians. That may be because of the way the Combatant Commander boundaries are drawn. NORTHCOM has most but not all of the Bering Sea.

Combatant Command AORs, Bering Sea

It should not be this way. That USEUCOM is responsible for Siberia is insane. Siberia, the Aleutians and the Bering Sea should be under INDOPACOM.