On the leading edge – Operation Arctic Crossroads

by: LTJG Stephanie Young

Located in one of the most remote areas, 33 miles north of the Arctic Circle on Alaska’s Western coast, is the native village of Kotzebue, Alaska. Settled by Inupiat Eskimos for more than 600 years, Kotzebue has long been known as the passage to the Northwest Arctic and served as a central trading post for international travelers with access to three major rivers.

This native village of just over 3,000 people has welcomed more than 70 temporary residents, as personnel from Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Air National Guard and U.S. Public Health Service take part in Operation Arctic Crossroads 2010.

Operation Arctic Crossroads is a community outreach effort across Northern Alaska that incorporates local knowledge with the expertise from military and humanitarian responders.

In only 20 days, the team visits far-reaching Northern Alaska villages including Pt. Hope, Koyuk, Wales, Selawik, Shishmaref, Kivalina, Little Diomede and Shaktoolik to provide medical, dental and veterinary care. The medical aide provided is crucial for these populations, as the nearest medical facility can be hundreds of miles away.

The mission is fundamental for not only the people of these remote villages, but for federal responders. Coast Guard personnel with the support of the Army and Air National Guards are conducting tests and exercises to determine operational effectiveness and overall capabilities of Coast Guard assets in the Arctic.

Of increasing importance in the Arctic Region is testing the capabilities for small response boats operating in shallow waters. Personnel are looking at their compatibility with local infrastructure as well as how the assets perform in the unique Western Alaska Coastline. Communications equipment was also tested to determine reliability and limitations.

“The Coast Guard has been involved with Alaska since it was a territory, but now we have increasing territory to cover up here for our 11 mission areas,” said Admiral Bob Papp. “So we need to experiment. We need to find out what equipment we need and what kind of challenges we will face up here. And you are all on the leading edge.”