The “Polar Dagger” exercises come amid a broader de-emphasis in counterinsurgency training—and a return to their traditional role in preparing for a great-power war.

Green Berets, Air Commandos, and other special operators are currently training close to Russia’s most remote border. 

US special operations units are holding a major exercise in western Alaska, only miles from the United States’ sea border with Russia. 

Alaska Exercises: A “Polar Dagger” in Russia’s Back

During the second half of August, some of the best units in the entire US military are training on the Alaskan islands bordering Russia. The exercises are taking place near Point Hope, St. Lawrence Island, Wales, Tin City, and Little Diomede Island, Alaska. The latter is the United States’ closest land point to Russia; the island is only about 2 miles from its western neighbor, Big Diomede Island, in Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The exercises are scheduled to conclude on August 31.

Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH), the commando element of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), is organizing and hosting Exercises Polar Dagger and Tundra Merlin. The former trains commandos in Arctic warfare, whereas the latter integrates joint air and land capabilities to enhance deterrence and readiness in Alaska.

The exercises will take place near the Bering Strait, the body of water that separates Russia’s Siberian region from Alaska. It is only about 53 miles wide, and also links the Arctic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. The Bering Strait is one of the most strategic passages in the Western Hemisphere as the maritime gateway into the Indo-Pacific Ocean from the High North.

“SOCNORTH executes POLAR DAGGER annually to demonstrate Special Operations Forces’ ability to rapidly deploy to the Arctic,” NORTHCOM announced in a news release.  

“The training and engagements allow SOF forces to strengthen civil-military partnerships, improve readiness, and enhance community and Joint Force interoperability in the Arctic, a region critical to homeland defense,” NORTHCOM added.  

Some of the units involved include the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group. These Green Berets specialize in operations in Europe. Air Commandos flying MC-130J Commando II transport aircraft are supporting the training event. 

Navy SEALs and Marine Raiders often train in the region, too, as it offers excellent cold-weather warfare skills. 

US Special Forces Are the Tip of the Spear  

Since the early 2000s, US military doctrine has placed greater emphasis on special operations. During the Cold War, special operations units were seen as an elite force that could achieve coup de mains in the opening phases of military operations—or pull off impressive raids or hostage rescue missions in enemy territory.

The invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks gave special forces a far more prominent role in US power projection—and cemented them as the weapon of choice in the minds of policymakers. Indeed, it was a few small teams of Army Green Berets and CIA paramilitary officers who worked with local Afghan forces to oust the Taliban regime and its al-Qaida allies only a few weeks after the Twin Towers fell.

During the ensuing war in Iraq, policymakers and commanders relied heavily on special operations forces to dismantle al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) and defeat the Shia militias. The US Army’s Delta Force, with support from the 75th Ranger Regiment, “white” Navy SEAL teams, Recon Marines, and Green Berets, systematically dismantled the terrorist organization and the Shia fighters in an industrial counterterrorism campaign.  

Following the end of major counterterrorism operations, special operations units have returned to their pre-2001 role of supporting conventional forces. Exercises like Polar Dagger and Tundra Merlin are intended to prepare commandos to fight against near-peer adversaries such as Russia and China.

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou   

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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