Just surviving the Arctic could be half the battle for NATO in a future war

"SODANKYLÄ, Finland - Deep snow. Fleeting daylight. Wet clothes. Frozen weapons. Sub-zero temperatures. NATO soldiers training in Arctic warfare are learning that in a future conflict, fighting the enemy may be only half the battle. The other would be surviving the region's harsh winters. "The environment can be hard for someone who is not used to it," said Finnish Lt. Laura Lähdekorpi, bundled up and dressed in camouflage to blend in with the snow."

"Lähdekorpi is among roughly 20 NATO soldiers participating in an Arctic warfare training and cold-weather survival course led by the Finnish Army's Jaeger Brigade, which specializes in winter combat. The monthlong course is conducted far above the Arctic Circle, in Finland's snow-covered Lapland region, where soldiers see just a few hours of sunlight each day and experience temperatures that regularly drop well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit."

"With growing Russian and Chinese activity across the Arctic, NATO officials are stressing the need for greater readiness in the region. The training course helps Western soldiers sharpen their ability to fight on frozen battlefields, where the military alliance could find itself at war next amid rising competition. "The Arctic, overall, is changing," Canadian Cpt. Vincent Lemelin, another soldier participating in the course, told Business Insider during a visit to Lapland this week. "So we need to know much more expertise to be able to face these changes.""

NATO soldiers undergo a monthlong Arctic warfare and cold-weather survival course in Finland's Lapland, conducted by the Finnish Army's Jaeger Brigade. Approximately 20 participants train far above the Arctic Circle, where daylight is minimal and temperatures regularly drop well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Training covers movement and survival skills, including dealing with wet clothes, frozen weapons, and extreme cold. The environment demands specialized expertise and adaptation for personnel unaccustomed to polar conditions. Rising Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic is driving NATO to increase readiness and sharpen capabilities for potential conflict on frozen battlefields.

Read at Business Insider