OCTOBER 23, 2024 – From the heart of Ohio to the rugged Alaskan terrain, the Polar Surge exercise is uniting Airmen, Guardians and coalition forces in pursuit of unparalleled space intelligence support to operations.
Polar Surge is an active and ongoing partnership between the 213th Space Warning Squadron at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, and the 126th Intelligence Squadron at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio. Additional Airmen from the 178th Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group support the partnership.
Clear Space Force Station was initially built as a ballistic missile early warning site in 1958 during the Cold War era. Over the decades, the station has evolved with technological advances and defense strategies. Today, with the help of two nearly 5-story-tall radars, the station’s primary mission is to provide early warning of intercontinental and submarine ballistic missile launches to the Missile Warning Center at North American Aerospace Defense Command. The secondary mission of the radar station is to provide space surveillance data on orbiting objects to the NORAD Space Control Center, where support from the 126th IS comes in.
“We do not have a Guard intelligence capability assigned here at the 213th,” said Lt. Col. Jody Schweickart, commander of the 213th. “So, when we participated in Vulcan Guard, hosted by the 126th in Ohio, relationships were built and we capitalized on the expertise presented by the 126th, enabling us to enhance the small active duty intelligence component at Clear.”
“Our squadron has over 13 years of expertise providing space analysis to the warfighter,” said Lt. Col. Britney Hensley, commander of the 126th IS. “Our analysts offer the 213th operators with space domain solutions amidst an ever-changing contested mission landscape.”
Vulcan Guard is a series of space-focused exercises integrating Air National Guard operations and intelligence personnel with U.S. military partners through the State Partnership Program, incorporating several diverse space weapons systems in realistic threat-based scenarios. In 2023, the 178th Wing hosted an iteration of Vulcan Guard, bringing together seven ANG states, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Space Force and the Brazilian military. Ohio hosted Guardsmen from New York, Florida, Colorado, California, Alaska and Hawaii. The Polar Surge concept was born thanks to relationships established between the 213th and 126th during Vulcan Guard.
Surrounded by farmland, the 178th Wing is home for the 126th IS, one of four intelligence squadrons in the 178th ISRG. The wing provides units to conduct ISR and operational support to execute state and federal missions. The 178th ISRG supports full-spectrum intelligence capabilities across four functional areas: cyber, geospatial, space and signals. Since the summer of 2023, more than 30 Airmen from the wing have taken the 3,054-mile journey across the United States and Canada to contribute critical intelligence support while broadening their operational experience and network.
“We are here to provide intelligence support to the operators,” said Staff Sgt. Emily Thompson, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 126th IS. “As they are doing their job looking out into space at different assets, our job is to give them information they can make decisions on.”
Even gazing skyward from the top of Denali, North America’s tallest peak, the space surrounding our planet might appear as an infinite void. But NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office reveals a different reality: an estimated 500,000 small pieces of orbital debris and about 21,000 larger objects are whirling around our planet every day.
Thompson said intelligence analysts assist the space operators by evaluating potential threats within the space debris. When operators encounter an object that requires tracking or notice unusual activity or changes, they can consult the analyst to help assess the threat potential.
“The Air National Guard creates an unmatched capability for the Department of Defense,” said Hensley. “Our Citizen-Airmen bolster our military’s missions, as Polar Surge exemplifies. The space domain expertise that exists in the Air National Guard provides the U.S. and coalition forces a strategic advantage in the Great Power Competition.”
Polar Surge enhances missions in the Ohio and Alaskan ANG, ensuring a more ready and relevant force. Ohio’s Airmen collaborated with the Alaska ANG, active-duty counterparts, U.S. Space Force Guardians, members of the Canadian Air Force and civilian contractors during this exercise.
“The 178th is not only incredibly capable for this type of stuff but our diversity of mission and people really give us a lot of skills that are not offered up here,” said Thompson.
Thomson noted the experience reinforced the multi-capable Airman concept by exposing the 126th IS to diverse challenges they wouldn’t encounter in Ohio.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 126th IS, supported Polar Surge.
“Since I have been out here, I have been able to definitely dive into my understanding of the tradecraft we have and the tools and processes we go through,” said Lee, standing in front of the Space Force radar. “I’ve been able to exercise and really find out how what I do is helpful to the overall Air Force and defense of the nation.”
Schweickart said having intelligence analysts on station taught their operators to be more involved in what they are doing, seeing a bigger picture rather than just a blip on the screen. She said Polar Surge also exposed the Airmen at the 178th and the 213th to new experiences, strengthening their mission and U.S. military capabilities.
“It may not be what they are used to doing, but they are passionate and knowledgeable and they are confident that they can do whatever comes their way,” said Schweikart. “They have been put outside their comfort zone, they have been pushed, and they know how to levy the relationships and grow those relationships.”
By Master Sgt. Elisabeth Gelhar
178th Wing