177th Leader Sharpens Cold-Weather Edge, Graduates Subzero Survival Course

Maintenance Group Commander, Col. Brian Cooper, assigned 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey National Guard, packs his gear after sleeping in a thermal shelter on the fourth night of a six-day, five-night Field Training Exercise during the Air National Guard's Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Feb. 6, 2025. 70 class participants representing 37 wings from 27 states traveled on foot in subzero temperatures, using land navigational skills, to build camps featuring either a 10-man Arctic tent or thermal shelters made from materials found in nature. Students were comprised of mostly Security Forces specialists, but also included a Maintenance Group Commander, Physician Assistant, Cyber Communications Specialist, and a Public Affairs Specialist. The course taught service members to conduct mission-essential tasking in extreme cold environments. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Audra Flanagan)