Combined, joint EOD exercise Northern Challenge 2024 kicks off in Keflavík, Iceland

by U.S. 6th Fleet

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mark Frick, a native of Baltimore, Maryland and explosive ordnance disposal team leader with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (26MEU(SOC)), photographs a neutralized simulated improvised explosive device during Exercise Northern Challenge 2023, Keflavik Airport, Iceland, Sept. 22, 2023. Northern Challenge 23 is an Icelandic Coast Guard-led bomb disposal exercise, hosted to train teams from over a dozen nations with response to incidents involving simulated improvised and military explosive devices. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 26MEU(SOC), under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Jia)

230922-M-VP565-1064

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mark Frick, a native of Baltimore, Maryland and explosive ordnance disposal team leader with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (26MEU(SOC)), photographs a neutralized simulated improvised explosive device during Exercise Northern Challenge 2023, Keflavik Airport, Iceland, Sept. 22, 2023. Northern Challenge 23 is an Icelandic Coast Guard-led bomb disposal exercise, hosted to train teams from over a dozen nations with response to incidents involving simulated improvised and military explosive devices. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 26MEU(SOC), under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Jia)

SHARE IMAGE:

Download Image

Image Details

Photo By: Cpl. Kyle Jia

VIRIN: 230922-M-VP565-2064

Northern Challenge in an annual, joint-funded multinational EOD exercise hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard aimed at preparing NATO Allies and Partnership for Peace participants for international deployments and defense against terrorism. This year’s iteration features over 320 participants from 17 nations, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

“No nation can confront today’s challenges alone, which is why every year we welcome countries from across the NATO Alliance to demonstrate our shared values, experience, trust, and vision for a secure and prosperous world,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jónas K. Þorvaldsson, commander, Icelandic Coast Guard EOD.

During the exercise, EOD technicians will respond to simulated improvised explosive devices (IED) threats of increasing complexity over a two-week period headquartered at Keflavík Air Base. Several unique sites have been set up to imitate non-permissive, hostile enemy environments in both land and maritime domains to test each unit’s specialized tactics, techniques and procedures.

“Northern Challenge is the premiere EOD exercise for NATO Allies and partners to plan, conduct and assess realistic training scenarios in a collaborative environment,” said Royal Norwegian Navy Cmdr. Rune Hausken, Northern Challenge 2024 exercise director. “Over the next two weeks of improving our tactical proficiency and exploitation procedures, these EOD forces will stand stronger together in support of a safe, stable, and secure Euro‐Atlantic region.”

In addition to conducting complex training scenarios, EOD technicians from across participating countries will collaborate within multinational command and control and exploitation cells to enhance interoperability at the operational level. These cells will ensure that EOD teams are organized to effectively counter IED threats while ensuring the intelligence analysis and information sharing is in accordance with NATO standards and procedures.

“Navy EOD has exquisite capabilities to operate in all environments to execute the Nation’s tasking and enable the Fleet’s freedom of maneuver, including in Arctic environments,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8. “Iceland is a perfect setting to exercise our skillsets alongside our NATO Allies and joint services to ensure we are prepared to seamlessly integrate in real-world operations and respond globally to explosive threats.”

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.