Armed Forces Day Thule

A native Greenlandic child wishes her father’s dog sled team good luck before the dogsled race March 30. Thule Air Base celebrated Armed Forces Day March 30-31 by inviting native Greenlandic residents to the base, some of whom traveled up to three days across the extremely cold environment by dog sled to attend the celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Robert Brown)

Security forces battle drills

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- Senior Airman David Light and Airmen 1st Class Caleb Coates and Matthew Yoder clear a staircase during battle drills at Thule. Battle drills have allowed the Airmen to tailor training to a hands-on and mission specific approach to ready Airmen and heighten security measures. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Polar Bear swim

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland – Icebergs float on the horizon as 821st Air Base Group Airmen hold a polar bear swim Aug. 4 and 26 at the Thule AB Tug Boat Beach. The air temperature was 51 degrees, while the water was a scant 41 degrees. "It was a really unique experience,” said a chilled Staff Sgt. Neal Thompson, 821st Air Base Group Knowledge Operations Management. “It was definitely something that a lot of people are unable to do,” he said referring to his newly-earned title of Polar Bear. Thule AB is one of the six installations operated by the 21st Space Wing, and is located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Laura Vargas)

821st Security Forces Squadron patrol

Staff Sgt. Brett Mattmiller, 821st Security Forces Squadron, patrols the main road to Thule Air Base’s missile warning and space surveillance site. The vast terrain the Arctic Defenders secure on a daily basis can be seen in the background. New operations procedures have saved the squadron patrol miles as well as cutting fuel costs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Clinton Ellis)

Armed Forces Day Thule

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - Thule Air Base celebrated Armed Forces Day April 7-8 by inviting native Greenlandic residents to the base, some who traveled up to three days to attend the celebration. Most of the events took place on the frozen Arctic Ocean and included mukluk hockey, dog sled races, sled races, kettle curling and helicopter rides provided by a Greenlandic aviation company, and concluded with a native craft sale. While many of the hunters come to Thule each year for the celebration, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Airmen assigned to the Department of Defense’s most remote installation, and allowed the Airmen to learn about their culture and share a special Easter weekend with their Arctic neighbors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zhenhua Xie)

Armed Forces Day Thule

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - Thule Air Base celebrated Armed Forces Day April 7-8 by inviting native Greenlandic residents to the base, some who traveled up to three days to attend the celebration. Most of the events took place on the frozen Arctic Ocean and included mukluk hockey, dog sled races, sled races, kettle curling and helicopter rides provided by a Greenlandic aviation company, and concluded with a native craft sale. While many of the hunters come to Thule each year for the celebration, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Airmen assigned to the Department of Defense’s most remote installation, and allowed the Airmen to learn about their culture and share a special Easter weekend with their Arctic neighbors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zhenhua Xie)