Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa

Stuttgart, Germany

Tag: cold response

Norwegian army Chief of Defence Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, left, gives a challenge coin to U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Sean Day, the deputy chief of staff for the Combined Joint Logistics Support Group during a tour of the CJLSG prior to exercise Cold Response 26 in Kjeller, Norway, Feb. 23, 2026. A key component of NATO's enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo) - Norwegian army Chief of Defence Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, left, gives a challenge coin to U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Sean Day, the deputy chief of staff for the Combined Joint Logistics Support Group during a tour of the CJLSG prior to exercise Cold Response 26 in Kjeller, Norway, Feb. 23, 2026. A key component of NATO's enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo)

Norwegian Chief of Defence Visits Combined U.S. – Norwegian Logistics Headquarters

KJELLER AIR BASE, Norway– Norwegian Armed Forces General Eirik Kristoffersen, the Norwegian Chief of Defence, visited Kjeller Air Base on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, to meet with U.S. Marines, Sailors and Norwegian Armed Forces members with the exercise Cold Response 26 Combined Joint Logistics Support Group (CJLSG).

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U.S. Marine Corps tactical vehicles are staged in preparation for exercise Cold Response 26 in Tromsdalen, Norway, Jan. 22, 2026. The Marine Corps Pre-positioning Program-Norway, managed by Blount Island Command, enables the rapid outfitting of a deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force by storing ready-to-use equipment in climate-controlled caves. Exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Franco Lewis) - U.S. Marine Corps tactical vehicles are staged in preparation for exercise Cold Response 26 in Tromsdalen, Norway, Jan. 22, 2026. The Marine Corps Pre-positioning Program-Norway, managed by Blount Island Command, enables the rapid outfitting of a deployed Marine Air-Ground Task Force by storing ready-to-use equipment in climate-controlled caves. Exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Franco Lewis)

Beneath Norway's Mountains, a Nearly Four Decade Alliance Stands Ready

Above the Arctic Circle, winter dominates the landscape. Snow blankets the mountains and subzero winds cut across frozen valleys. For most people, this terrain can feel remote and inhospitable. However, for U.S. Marines alongside NATO Allies and partners, it is a proving ground. In the Arctic, the environment can be as lethal as any adversary. This reality makes joint readiness, training, and the ability to rapidly mobilize equipment and personnel to crisis not optional, but essential to operational success in the event of armed conflict.

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Along a coastal mountain road, a light-armored reconnaissance vehicle, the LAV-25, patrols through a small Norwegian village during Cold Response 14. Cold Response 14 brought together nearly 16,000 troops from 16 countries to train high-intensity operations in the unique climate above the Arctic Circle and strengthen the alliance of partners and their commitment to global security in every clime and place. - Along a coastal mountain road, a light-armored reconnaissance vehicle, the LAV-25, patrols through a small Norwegian village during Cold Response 14. Cold Response 14 brought together nearly 16,000 troops from 16 countries to train high-intensity operations in the unique climate above the Arctic Circle and strengthen the alliance of partners and their commitment to global security in every clime and place.

Arctic experience bring Marines back to basics during Cold Response 14, strengthens bonds with European Partners

The Marine Corps’ small size and integrated capacity allows the smallest organization of the U.S. Armed Forces the ability to lead as the nation’s crisis response force while supporting contingency operations in every clime and place. During Cold Response 14, an emphasis was put on extreme cold-weather training to bring Marines back to the basics

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