U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Enhances Arctic Operational Environment Representation in Decisive Action Training Environment

The U.S. Army TRADOC G-2, in collaboration with the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC), has completed a significant update to the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE) Arctic region. This update delivers a more robust and realistic portrayal of the Arctic operational environment (OE) for training purposes. 

Leveraging the expertise of Arctic subject matter experts from CADTC, the update provides a comprehensive revision of all eight operational variables within the PMESII-PT (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical Environment, and Time) framework. Key improvements included enriched narratives for infrastructure, economic, and political variables, offering a deeper representation of the complexities of the Arctic region. 

This collaborative effort aligns with the recently published ATP 3-90.96/MCTP 12-10E: Arctic and Extreme Cold Weather Operations, a doctrinal publication jointly released by the U.S. Army Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate and the U.S. Marine Corps Doctrine Control Branch. The deployment of the updated DATE Arctic content is deliberate, ensuring DATE remains operationally relevant and provides conditions necessary to support training needs related to the Arctic environment. 

A key feature of this update is the expansion of real-world country information, and the removal of content from legacy Skolkan Scenario countries. The updated material now incorporates the “Arctic Five”—Canada, Denmark, Norway, Donovia, and the United States—the five Arctic countries with strategic port access.  

While the updated Arctic material is presented primarily through the PMESII-PT variables and is accessible through the Polar OEs page on ODIN, detailed information  (policy objectives, economic interests, and military capabilities) of specific actors like Donovia and Olvana remain accessible on their respective pages.  

This update is the conclusion of the comprehensive review of the Arctic region within DATE. TRADOC G-2 remains committed to continuous improvement and encourages user feedback via the ODIN Help/Feedback link at the bottom right of every ODIN page. Future revisions addressing the Arctic, Donovia, and Olvana will be incorporated as needed.