ARCTIC AND EXTREME COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS ATP 3-90.96 MCTP 12-10E February 2025 The Arctic is simultaneously an arena of competition, a line of attack in conflict, a vital area holding many natural resources, and key terrain for global power projection. As such, a ready and capable land force in arctic operations serves to deter threats to the U.S. homeland, its allies, and interests in the Arctic. As an expeditionary force, the U.S. military stays prepared to meet the challenges of the Arctic and to fight and win in any environment, regardless of home station. Leaders and individuals must understand the effects of the Arctic and extreme cold weather environments and must have the training, stamina, and willpower to take the proper actions. This manual provides the doctrinal foundation for Soldiers/Marines to understand the Arctic’s operational environment and conduct arctic and extreme cold weather operations. The fundamentals of this manual are also applicable to all cold weather environments. This manual also informs doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy improvements as the Army/Marine Corps regains arctic dominance. The following briefly introduces and summarizes each chapter: Chapter 1: The Arctic Environment provides a baseline for understanding the complex and unique arctic environment. It explains the significance of the Arctic, defines arctic operations, and describes the terrain, weather, and wildlife present in the Arctic. It also details how the arctic environment can affect troops and equipment while offering techniques commanders can implement to better adapt their forces to arctic operations. Chapter 2: Operational Considerations for the Arctic analyzes the operational environment by detailing political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, and time considerations. It describes the Arctic through the competition continuum: competition, crisis, and armed conflict. It also lists the fundamental principles of arctic operations. Chapter 3: Planning and Executing Arctic Operations describes the planning and execution of arctic operations. It details tactics in the Arctic as well as operations in the maritime and air domains. Chapter 4: Command, Control, and Information describes the impact of the Arctic on the Army and Marine Corps warfighting function of command and control, and the Marine Corps warfighting function of information. It provides essential elements of leadership, risk mitigation, and challenges to information systems. Chapter 5: Movement and Maneuver/Maneuver describes the impact of the Arctic on the movement and maneuver/maneuver warfighting function. It describes techniques for infantry, armor, rotary-wing, and special operations in arctic operations. Chapter 6: Intelligence describes the impact of the Arctic on the intelligence warfighting function and the intelligence process. Chapter 7: Fires describes the impact of the Arctic on the fires warfighting function. It describes techniques for artillery and air defense artillery in arctic operations. Chapter 8: Sustainment/Logistics outlines procedures for sustaining arctic operations. It explains the effect of the Arctic on all classes of supply, logistics, financial management, personnel services, and health service support. Chapter 9: Protection/Force Protection describes the impact of the Arctic on the protection/force protection warfighting function. Chapter 10: Training for Arctic Operations describes the training required to prepare for arctic operations.