Two U.S. Army soldiers sustained injuries after being attacked by a brown bear during a training exercise in Alaska. This occurred last Thursday as the soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division were engaged in a land navigation training event at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s Arctic Valley Training Area, according to division spokesperson Lt. Col. Joe Nederhode.
Nederhode emphasized the importance of safety, stating, “The health and safety of our personnel is our top priority.” He mentioned that the incident is currently under investigation, and they are working with local wildlife authorities to protect everyone in the vicinity. As of Friday morning, the soldiers—whose names haven’t been disclosed pending next of kin notification—were receiving medical treatment.
Wildlife officials from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggested that the bear’s actions might have been defensive, perhaps because it had just come out of hibernation. Interestingly, both soldiers had bear spray on hand and actually used it during the attack.
Cindy Wardlow, the district supervisor for Fish and Game, expressed her hopes for the soldiers’ rapid recovery, stating, “Our thoughts are with them.” She added that having bear spray readily available could indeed have made a difference in this kind of situation.
The 11th Airborne Division, known as the “Angels of the North Pole,” specializes in various types of operations, including those in extreme environments.
