EDIT: This AMA is now complete. Thank you to everyone who posted such interesting and thoughtful questions.

Here’s the story for Bloomberg Opinion: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-opinion-arctic-geopolitics-resources/army-training.html?srnd=opinion [Free to read]

Follow my Twitter account for updates on Part Two: https://twitter.com/liamdenning

PROOF: https://i.redd.it/ql8tbpuf1p3b1.jpg

I’m Liam Denning, a columnist with Bloomberg Opinion who spent several days on the ground with the 11th Airborne Division at their winter warfare training facility in Alaska.

The “Arctic warriors” are currently training to ski, shoot and survive in the Arctic. At -35F in 25 mph winds, your face can get frostbite in 4 minutes. That danger, plus sheer emptiness and lack of infrastructure in a state bigger than most countries, makes conventional Arctic warfare seem unimaginable. So what are they preparing for up there? Alaska was a Cold War frontline, but became a backwater after 9/11. Now the US has been spooked by Russian and Chinese moves, all given more urgency by the faraway war in Ukraine.

I’m writing a series of on-the-ground features about the army hiding at the top of the world, and I just released part one.

I’m here to answer your questions starting Monday June 5 at 12pm ET - ask me anything about my trip!