U.S. Special Operation Forces exercise winter combat in northern Sweden

Several groups from the Special Forces Operational Detachment have recently participated in exercise Vintersol 2021 (Winter Sun 2021), training warfare in freezing cold together with a Swedish brigade. Prior to the exercise, the American soldiers conducted winter training at Norrbotten regiment in Arvidsjaur, northern Sweden.

“Many of us have a lot of experience from desert environment,” one of the U.S. soldiers said in a press statement posted by the Swedish Defense Forces.

“Very cold and very hot climate has one thing in common, both are extreme and potentially life-threatening.”

The soldier, however, explained that there are big differences. “Everything takes much longer in cold and snow. Little things like getting out of the sleeping bag and get started with the morning routines are much harder.”

Organized in small teams, called Operational Detachment Alphas (ODA), the Special Forces soldiers are highly skilled for stealth combat missions. During the exercise with the Swedes, the groups have had the task of infiltrating deep behind the enemy’s lines in the snow-covered wilderness environment. The purpose was to enable combating the enemy with artillery, the Swedish Armed Forces informs.

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“We have developed enormously after coming here. Now, I would say that our ability to tackle winter is on par with the Swedish recruits after completing basic education,” one of the American operators said, adding: “But we want to develop even more.”

Last October, Sweden outlined its defense plans for the next five-year period with a serious boost in defense spendings.

“It is a signal to the Swedish people and our neighborhood that we are taking the security situation extremely seriously, Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said.

Including in the plans are the re-establishment of five regiments, including the Norrland Dragoon Regiment (k4) in Arvidsjaur aimed to work in closer cooperation with military forces int he northern parts of Norway and Finland.

The defense plan said Armed Forces is tasked to study additional measures to strengthen its presence in northernmost Sweden in times of growing tensions with Russia.

Sweden are not member of NATO but signed a Partnership for Peace agreement in 1994. In recent years, U.S. military has increasingly trained together in exercises with the Nordic countries.

On April 7th Secretary of Defense, Lloyd j. Austin III, spoke by phone with his Finnish counterpart, Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen. The two shared understanding of the deteriorating security situation resulting from the increased Russian activities along the Ukraine border, a statement from the Pentagon said.

I spoke with Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen today. I thanked him for his efforts in enhancing the U.S.-Finland defense relationship, and I look forward to its continued growth. The U.S. seeks to be the partner of choice for Finland defense. pic.twitter.com/wk2HwxED9w

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) April 7, 2021

Like Sweden, Finland is not a NATO member, but a near partner to the alliance.