Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arctic Readiness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senator questions whether 11th Airborne is properly resourced for Arctic missions; generals point to gear and training steps
Summary
A senator raised doubts about what "Arctic capable" means for the Army's 11th Airborne, asking whether the unit has cold-weather gear, helicopters and other equipment; generals said the service is buying cold-weather vehicles, increasing training and reviewing headquarters responsibilities, and cited an existing Arctic strategy.
A senator pressed defense leaders on whether the Army’s 11th Airborne has been clearly defined and adequately resourced for Arctic operations, saying officials have told lawmakers the division should be "masters of ... Arctic warfare" but asking what "Arctic capable" actually requires in practice.
The senator quoted Army leadership, saying General McConville had stated: "I expect every soldier of the division to be masters of their craft or Arctic warfare." The senator said reports from the field indicate uncertainty about cold-weather outfitting and availability of critical lift and transport assets, mentioning concerns about whether the service has enough Black Hawk helicopters and basic cold-temperature protective systems.
General George responded that the Army is acquiring cold-weather all-terrain vehicles (CATVs), making adjustments at higher headquarters to give the 11th Airborne certain capabilities, and increasing training at a readiness center. He said the service is reviewing what additional targeting, intelligence and equipment would be needed for the division to conduct warfighting tasks in Arctic conditions and described the existing Arctic strategy as "pretty solid."
The generals told the senator they would continue to review equipment needs and training, and that changes to headquarters responsibilities are intended to better tailor capabilities to the division. No changes to formal strategy were announced during the exchange.
The hearing left open questions about specific equipment counts and timelines; officials described ongoing reviews and short-term purchases but did not provide detailed inventories or a schedule for additional procurements.
