Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress Page: 78 of 117

                                
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress
(B) a description of a joint Arctic strategy for air operations, including all rotor and fixed
wing military aircraft platforms available for Arctic operations; and
(C) a description of a joint Arctic strategy for ground operations, including all military
ground forces available for Arctic operations.
(4) A description of near-term and long-term training, capability, and resource gaps that
must be addressed to fully execute each mission described in the Arctic strategy against an
increasing threat environment.
(5) A description of the level of cooperation between the Department of Defense, any other
departments and agencies of the United States Government, State and local governments,
and tribal entities related to the defense of the Arctic region.
(c) FORM OF REPORT.-The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in
unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
H.Rept. 115-874 also states:
The conferees direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the congressional
defense committees not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act on current
cold weather capabilities and readiness of the United States Armed Forces. The report shall
contain the following elements:
(1) A description of current cold weather capabilities and training to support United States
military operations in cold climates across the joint force;
(2) A description of anticipated requirements for United States military operations in cold
and extreme cold weather in the Arctic, Northeast Asia, and Northern and Eastern Europe;
(3) A description of the current cold weather readiness of the joint force, the ability to
increase cold weather training across the joint force, and any equipment, infrastructure,
personnel, or resource limitations or gaps that may exist;
(4) An analysis of potential opportunities to expand cold weather training for the Army,
the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps and the resources or infrastructure required
for such expansion; and
(5) An analysis of potential partnerships with State, local, Tribal, and private entities to
maximize training potential and to utilize local expertise, including traditional indigenous
knowledge. (Pages 835-836)
FY2019 DOD Appropriations Act (S. 3159)
The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its report (S.Rept. 115-290 of June 28, 2018) on S.
3159), states:
Arctic Broadband Infrastructure.-The Committee is concerned that broadband
infrastructure in the Arctic, particularly in northern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, is not
capable of supporting current military operations. Therefore, the Committee directs the
Secretary of Defense to conduct an evaluation of broadband infrastructure in the United
States Arctic and provide a report to the congressional defense committees not later than
180 days after enactment of this act. The report shall list an inventory of all existing
broadband and communications infrastructure in the Aleutian Is land chain and Alaska's
northwest and northern slope communities, as well as present limitations and needs for the
future. (Pages 35-36)

Congressional Research Service                                                                        73

Congressional Research Service

73