New York Air Guard's 109th Airlift Wing completes 2026 Greenland training and science support cycle
STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia, New York (09/17/2026) — The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing successfully completed its 2026 Greenland season, supporting joint military operations and qualifying aircrews for polar operations in one of the world's most challenging environments.
The Greenland training and support season began mid-April and concluded at the end of August.
The missions were conducted amid challenging weather, aircraft maintenance issues and lodging constraints. Despite those obstacles, Airmen from across the wing adapted to changing conditions and worked together to keep the mission moving, according to Col. Steven Slosek, the wing commander.
"The success of this season is a direct reflection of the professionalism, flexibility and dedication of our Airmen," Slosek said.
"Operating in Greenland requires our people to overcome challenges that simply don't exist in a traditional airlift environment. Our maintenance, operations, medical and support teams continued to find solutions and accomplish the mission while keeping safety at the forefront," he added.
In addition to training and qualifying aircrews, the 109th provided critical airlift capabilities during Joint Exercise Apex Indigo, demonstrating the Wing's ability to support Homeland Defense operations.
While operating in Greenland, 109th Airmen also supported Joint Exercise Apex Indigo, a homeland defense exercise with the 10th Special Forces Group, Special Operations Command North and the Danish military designed to demonstrate combat capabilities in the Arctic.
The exercise involved tactical operations, the centerpiece of the wing's contribution was the airlift of a 15-person team of special operators into a remote Arctic location where the team spent four days conducting training in combat, mobility, and logistics operations in one of the most demanding environments on Earth.
The wing also strengthened its partnership with Denmark through orientation flights for Danish basic military trainees to Raven Camp, the area on the polar ice cap where 109th crews train.
The flights provided the trainees an opportunity to observe U.S. polar operations while strengthening relationships with the Danish Joint Arctic Command.
The Greenland deployment provided an essential training environment for 109th aircrews, according to Slosek. The wing completed check rides for 23 pilots, 16 navigators, 10 flight engineers and 17 loadmasters. Eleven initial qualification training folders and eight requalification training folders were completed during the season, according to wing operations.
Raven Camp and other remote operating locations in Greenland provide the 109th with a unique environment to maintain the specialized skills required to operate ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft in polar regions.
The training prepares Airmen to conduct operations in remote areas where snow and ice serve as runways and where weather and infrastructure can change rapidly.
Throughout the season, 109th Airmen employed the wing's ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft to transport personnel, cargo and fuel to remote locations across Greenland in support of ongoing U.S. scientific research. Delivering critical logistics support to the National Science Foundation.
The wing completed 42 planned missions, logging 236.2 total flight hours, including 199 hours on the continent. Aircrews transported 844,781 pounds of cargo, 562,575 pounds of fuel and 397 passengers.
The 109th Airlift Wing has operated in Greenland for decades, The wing's ski-equipped LC-130s are uniquely capable of operating from snow and ice in remote polar environments.
"The Greenland mission demands a tremendous amount from every member of the team," Slosek said.
"Our Airmen demonstrated that they are prepared to operate in austere environments, adapt to unexpected challenges and deliver the capabilities our partners depend on. I am proud of what this team accomplished this season," he added.
With the completion of the Greenland support season, the 109th Airlift Wing will continue preparing its Airmen and aircraft for future polar and global operations.
In October, 109th Aircrews will fly to Antarctica to support U.S. scientific research at stations across the continent as part of Operation Deep Freeze, the military's support to the National Science Foundation.
Media Attachments
Army Special Forces Soldiers, known as Green Berets assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Danish Special Operations Forces assigned to SIRIUS offload from a LC-130 “skibird” flown by Airmen of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing on Aug. 18, 2026, at Camp Raven, Greenland, as part of Operation Apex Indigo. U.S. Special Operations Command North operates in Greenland alongside Danish counterparts to evaluate basic survival, search and rescue, cold-weather mobility, and communications infrastructure operations in the harshest environment on Earth, ensuring U.S. SOF capability to survive and thrive under any circumstances. The 109th Airlift Wing, which flies the only ski-equipped aircraft in the U.S. military supported the mission. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Low) (This photo was altered for security purposes)
New York National Guard
Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer, 518-786-4581Share this Story
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