{"id":16803,"date":"2021-03-18T18:55:43","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T18:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/03\/18\/how-navy-divers-are-preparing-for-the-arctic-battlefront\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:44:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:44:18","slug":"how-navy-divers-are-preparing-for-the-arctic-battlefront","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2021\/03\/18\/how-navy-divers-are-preparing-for-the-arctic-battlefront\/","title":{"rendered":"How Navy divers are preparing for the Arctic battlefront"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the entire U.S. military pivots to preparations for a future conventional war after decades of asymmetrical conflict, the Navy\u2019s diving community is giving increased focus to what it takes to operate in the frigid waters that Arctic missions may require in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Divers with the Virginia-based Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2<\/a> took part in a third cycle of ice dive training last month at Camp Ripley<\/a>, Minnesota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course is run by a combination of experienced Navy divers and civilian instructors and aims to get the dive community ready should they be asked to head beneath the ice in an Arctic climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diving beneath 18 inches of ice presents its own hazards and challenges, according to the command and senior divers in the unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an environment a world away from the bathtub-temperature waters of Virginia and Florida where much of the unit\u2019s dive training takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDivers usually have direct access to the surface,\u201d Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Slack told Navy Times. \u201cKnowing we\u2019ll be diving under the thickness of ice, we try to prepare them mentally for the rigors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t