Thule Air Base Greenland

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- Thule personnel depart on the weekly rotator flight. Each person takes with them critical knowledge of the mission and experience that must be captured before departure. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Polar Bear swim

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland – Icebergs float on the horizon as 821st Air Base Group Airmen hold a polar bear swim Aug. 4 and 26 at the Thule AB Tug Boat Beach. The air temperature was 51 degrees, while the water was a scant 41 degrees. "It was a really unique experience,” said a chilled Staff Sgt. Neal Thompson, 821st Air Base Group Knowledge Operations Management. “It was definitely something that a lot of people are unable to do,” he said referring to his newly-earned title of Polar Bear. Thule AB is one of the six installations operated by the 21st Space Wing, and is located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Laura Vargas)

Thule marks police week

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - The 821 Security Forces Squadron celebrated Police Week with a variety of activities, including a 9.3 mile ruck march May 18. Police week is a national observance that was created in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Thule AB is located about 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and is operated by the 821st Air Base Group, one of six installations operated by the 21st Space Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zhenhua Xie)

Armed Forces Day Thule

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - Thule Air Base celebrated Armed Forces Day April 7-8 by inviting native Greenlandic residents to the base, some who traveled up to three days to attend the celebration. Most of the events took place on the frozen Arctic Ocean and included mukluk hockey, dog sled races, sled races, kettle curling and helicopter rides provided by a Greenlandic aviation company, and concluded with a native craft sale. While many of the hunters come to Thule each year for the celebration, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Airmen assigned to the Department of Defense’s most remote installation, and allowed the Airmen to learn about their culture and share a special Easter weekend with their Arctic neighbors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zhenhua Xie)

Armed Forces Day Thule

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - Thule Air Base celebrated Armed Forces Day April 7-8 by inviting native Greenlandic residents to the base, some who traveled up to three days to attend the celebration. Most of the events took place on the frozen Arctic Ocean and included mukluk hockey, dog sled races, sled races, kettle curling and helicopter rides provided by a Greenlandic aviation company, and concluded with a native craft sale. While many of the hunters come to Thule each year for the celebration, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Airmen assigned to the Department of Defense’s most remote installation, and allowed the Airmen to learn about their culture and share a special Easter weekend with their Arctic neighbors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zhenhua Xie)

Arctic commitment

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland – 1st Lt. Ariel Torgerson (left), 821st Support Squadron Communications Flight commander, issues the oath of enlistment to Staff Sgt. Eric Jennings, 821st SPTS, March 30 in view of Mount Dundas, Greenland. The 821st Air Base Group, which operates the base, is one of the 21st Space Wing’s groups and is home to the northernmost deep water port in the world. Jennings took advantage of the unique opportunity to have his re-enlistment take place on the ice of the North Bay. He is a client systems technician and re-enlisted for five more years of service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Darrell Kinsey)