Cold Weather Training: Enhancing Capabilities for Operations in the High North

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
02/15/2025

By Robbin Laird

I have focused since my time working with the USCG and with Rear Admiral (Retired) Gilbert, on the challenges of the Arctic opening.

I wrote a good deal on this subject from 2010-2015, including highlighting the need for new icebreakers.

Well that did not happen.

Ed Timperlake and I focused later on the standup of the new version of 2nd Fleet and I spent a good deal of time at 2nd MAW.

This led to me highlighting a strategic shift to the High North which I discussed in my article the 3 Ns: The Nordics, the Navy and North-Carolina based Marines.

This is what I wrote in my July 3, 2024 article: “In what I am calling the “3N” strategic redesign, the Nordics are working collectively together to enhance their ability to operate in strategic depth across their region, in addition to enhancing local or national defense capabilities. 2nd Fleet and the NATO command are working to shape more effective maritime reach and cover over the region reaching back to North America.

“The Marines can project into the region, and through their innovations in distributed operations in concert with the Nordic nations can work through various combat nodes across the region.”

Quite obviously, the Osprey is a key tool in the Marine Corps tool box for such operations.

A recent training exercise conducted by the Michigan National Guard showcased training for such operations.

This is how the January 2025 exercise was described by the official statement: “The Michigan National Guard recently hosted Northern Strike 25-1, a winter warfare training exercise at the Michigan National Guard’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center, Jan. 27-30, 2025. Army National Guard Soldiers conducted mortar live fire exercises while Marines underwent cold weather mobility training. Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event focusing on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold-weather, all-domain environment.”

And the video below highlights some aspects of training and one sees the ubiquitous Osprey supporting operations in this challenging environment.

In the photos below U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company are seen involved cold weather mobility training during Exercise Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025.

At the recent French conference on cold weather training which was highlighted in articles by Murielle Delaporte, Marines were in attendance at the conference and highlighted their approach to cold weather training, and next month we will publish Delaporte’s report on that presentation.

It is clear that an Osprey in such conditions is indispensable to handle medical emergencies. Obviously, an injured soldier in such conditions has to be moved rapidly, and the Osprey is the only platform whcih can do this in these conditions.

From this standpoint, the Osprey and the forthcoming U.S. Army tiltrotor aircraft will be an indispensable element of U.S. and allied High North operations.

An Interview With General Lionel Catar, Commander of the 27th BIM

Perspective from Moscow: The International Arctic Forum

The Arctic Opening: Co-Opetition in the High North

U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company prepare a MV-22B Osprey to land as part of cold weather mobility training during Exercise Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company prepare a MV-22B Osprey to land as part of cold weather mobility training during Exercise Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability. Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marines assigned to Second Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to load their snowmobiles into an MV-22B Osprey as part of cold weather mobility training during Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. The Marines were split into two teams: one foot-mobile team focused on destroying an enemy weapons cache through concealed movement and calling in fire support, while the second team used high-mobility snowmobiles to capture high-value targets and gather intel, emphasizing speed and maneuverability.Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.
U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Shayne Egleston, assigned to Company M, Marine Air Control Squadron 1, guides the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey onto a helicopter landing zone as part of cold weather mobility training during Exercise Northern Strike 2025-1 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 29, 2025. Exercise NS 25-1 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a cold weather, all-domain environment.