To strengthen lasting combat capabilities in the Arctic, the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division establishes the "Polar Logistics Brigade"

The U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division officially established the "Polar Logistics Brigade" in Alaska on the 16th. (Taken from the U.S. Army website)

[Reporter Tu Jumin/Taipei Report] Considering the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic region, the U.S. Army continues to strengthen its polar combat capabilities. The Foreign Military News website reported that the 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army formally established the "Polar Logistics Brigade" in Alaska on the 16th. It is responsible for logistic support tasks such as oil bombs, food, equipment maintenance and transportation, and is equipped with intelligence and electronic warfare units, so that this airborne division, which specializes in polar operations, can maintain long-term combat capabilities in the harsh environment of low temperatures, vast land and sparsely populated areas.

Foreign military news website "Defense Blog" reported that the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division held an inauguration ceremony for the "11th Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Arctic" at the "Elmendorf-Richardson" Joint Base in Alaska on the 16th.

According to reports, this organizational adjustment includes the reactivation of the 106th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, the original 17th Combat Logistics Support Battalion was renamed the 17th Division Logistics Support Battalion, and the establishment of the 11th Airborne Division Logistics Battalion to strengthen logistics supply, intelligence collection and electronic warfare support capabilities.

The 11th Airborne Division will be reactivated in 2022, replacing the original structure of the U.S. Army Alaska Command. Its main combat forces include two infantry brigade combat teams, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks.

Since winter temperatures in Alaska are often well below freezing and military bases are far apart, troops must have independent and reliable logistics support capabilities if they are to be deployed for a long period of time. Major General John Cogbill, commander of the 11th Airborne Division, emphasized that without these support troops, it would be impossible for the US military to maintain sustained combat effectiveness in the harsh environment of large-scale combat.

It is worth noting that the U.S. Army released its latest "How the Army Fights" guidance document on the 7th of this month, which listed "persistent operations" as one of the four major combat elements, alongside aggregation, strike and close combat, highlighting the importance of logistics support.

Colonel George Plys, commander of the Polar Logistics Brigade, said that the 17th Division Logistics Support Battalion is responsible for maintaining troop operations, while the 106th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion assists commanders in understanding battlefield situations and making decisions. Both are indispensable capabilities for the US military to achieve victory.