The Gulf of Alaska provides invaluable training space needed to realistically train U.S. service members to maintain readiness to protect and defend the United States and its allies. Alaska’s largest multi-service military training exercise is called Northern Edge. Maritime training activities associated with this exercise occur within a designated Temporary Maritime Activities Area, which is located south of Prince William Sound and east of Kodiak Island.
Since 1975, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has met defense objectives through training military forces for potential crises in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Mission-critical military training activities in Alaska occur within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which includes the Temporary Maritime Activities Area in the Gulf of Alaska and existing Air Force and Army inland air and land training areas. These training areas provide realistic environments for military forces and interagency partners to practice both simple and complex training activities. Training in Alaska allows for varying degrees of complexity and diversity, which enhances the quality of training and better prepares service members to respond to real-world situations.
Joint training exercises bring together personnel from different branches of the military to plan and participate in activities at sea, in the air, and on land. These exercises provide opportunities for forces to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures to improve coordination and fulfill military readiness requirements.