ArcticForge

Arctic Forge 25 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led biennial exercise that leverages Arctic host nation exercises Local Defense Exercise 25 in Finland and Joint Viking 25 in Norway, February 17-28, 2025, to build Arctic readiness and interoperability in support of the U.S. Army's Arctic Strategy.

Arctic Forge 25 is focused on building the U.S. Army’s Arctic capabilities including deployment to the Arctic, Arctic multi-domain operations, and Arctic sustainment, and includes approximately 330 U.S. and 750 multinational participants from Canada (TBD), Finland and Norway.

Arctic Forge Images

Videos

Video by Sgt. James Garvin

The Finnish Puukko Knife Explained

U.S. Army Europe and Africa

Feb. 28, 2023 | 1:19

“Tools of the trade” - Meet Sgt. P. Kemppanen, a Finnish Army Reservist who shares his cold weather knowledge with U.S. Troops who are currently participating in Arctic Forge 2023 in Finland.

A sheath knife (or ‘puukko’, as they are called in Finland) is an essential instrument for those people who love the outdoors and the puukko can often serve as first aid in the wilderness and in moments of danger, the puukko can act as an ice-pick, cut through a rope or strap, or cut wood for a fire. The puukko has a rich tradition in Finland and has served the people all the way back to ancient times. Even now graduates from the Finnish Military Academy are given a puukko as a memento.