Harsh Arctic Conditions Push Medics to Adapt

More than 100 Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel from 30 organizations and two partner nations participated in Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic (SOFAM) 2025, a multi-week training exercise held at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Led by Special Operations Command North, the event aimed to strengthen medical readiness in extreme cold environments.

Participants conducted casualty evacuation drills, point-of-injury care, and field surgical procedures while adapting clinical practices for Arctic conditions. For many, it was their first experience operating in such a harsh climate, offering vital insight into new medical capabilities.

“This exercise gave the medics a taste of the environment and an idea of how to prepare and train to it,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Wayne Papalski. “There is no real course or training outside of specific exercise that allows for this training to be conducted.”

Papalski emphasized that cold impacts every aspect of care and training. “The training is important because the environmental factor completely changes the treatment game,” he said. “It also established a precedent to train in and to prior to coming out to conduct training or operations in this environment.”