An Alaska National Guard Civil Support Team assists the Bartlett, an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry boat, in analyzing a simulated suspicious brief case found on the ship during NORTHERN EDGE 2003.

An avalanche specialist (left) with the Alaska Safety Mountain Center displays an avalanche on a terrain board during an avalanche safety seminar for exercise participants. The seminar focused on avalanche characteristics, terrain analysis, safe travel, and rescue response. Photo by SpEc. James -denton Wyllie, USA

A U.S. soldier places a brush back in a container of decontaminating solution before moving on to the next phase of a decontamination line. Soldiers trained U.S. Navy Seabees on the procedures troops must follow during decontamination. Photo by SpEc. Douglas DeMaio, USA

A U.S. Navy submariner sets his sights down range during weapons qualifications training. Photo by Spec. Douglas DeMaio, USA

Marine Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) search and guard a simulated “captive” during training. Photo by Spec. Douglas DeMaio, USA

A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to fly to the USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39) for deck-landing qualifications. Photo by Spec. James Wyllie, USA

Canadian Navy Lt. Jeff White (right) talks with FAST Marines and a U.S. soldier from an Army chemical company after the Marines conducted a simulated ambush of the chemical company. Lt. White spent several days with the Marines to see how they provide unit-level protection. Photo by Spec. Douglas DeMaio, USA

A rappelling instructor watches as a student rappels to a lower level on a tower during NORTHERN EDGE 2003. Photo by PH2 Gregory D. Devereaux, USN

A U.S. Army Air Defense radar operator closes down the Sentinel radar due to heavy winds. Photo by Pvt. Karima L. Mares, USA

Exercise participants greet the USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39) as it comes into port at the Valdez Container Terminal. Photo by Pfc. Kristin Akers, USA

A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter prepares to land on the USS Mount Vernon’s (LSD 39) flight deck during deck-landing qualifications. Photo by Pfc. Kristin Akers, USA

Indian Air Force personnel discuss the USAF Global Positioning System with a USAF member.

A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to fly to the USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39) for deck-landing qualifications.

Soldiers conduct a 5-kilometer snowshoe march at the Northern Warfare Training Center, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Photo by Sgt. Bradley Rhen, USA

Lt. Gen. Howie Chandler, USAF Commander, Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and Eleventh Air Force, commended exercise participants for improving homeland defense capabilities. Photo by Spec. James Wyllie, USA