JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON - 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3rd MDTF), the Army’s newest MDTF, participated in its first exercise May 4-19, 2023, as part of exercise Northern Edge 23-1.
Headquartered at Fort Shafter, Hawai’i, 3rd MDTF was activated in September 2022.
The 3rd MDTF’s participation in this exercise demonstrates the ability to fully operate with its capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Northern Edge 23 is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command multi-lateral, joint field training exercise (FTX) held in Alaska. The exercise is one in a series of exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; improve command, control and communication relationships; and develop cooperative plans and programs.
During Northern Edge 23, 3rd MDTF Soldiers demonstrated the capability to integrate and synchronize fires and effects to disrupt adversary standoff capabilities in a maritime and coastal combat environment enabling freedom of maneuver for the Joint Force, said Col David Zinn the commander of 3rd MDTF. In addition, the TF also validated joint system and network interoperability with both conventional and experimental equipment contributing to the further development of Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concepts and capabilities.
According to CSM Scott Slater, the 3rd MDTF senior noncommissioned officer, the unit implemented and executed an accelerated equipment fielding and training plan in order to send well-trained and equipped soldiers to participate in a joint exercise within 9 months of activation.
"Participation in this exercise demonstrates the Army's third and newest
Multi Domain Task Force brings capability right now to the Joint Force in
the Pacific. I am proud of our Soldiers who worked diligently throughout the
past nine months to achieve this," said, Col. Zinn at the conclusion of the exercise.
Soldiers across the TF simultaneously managed the arrival of new personnel along with equipment fielding, training, and exercise planning to ensure the unit was ready to contribute to the exercise.
MDTF’s are the signature formations for the Army’s transformation and are theater-specific units that employ long-range precision effects, including cyber, electronic warfare, intelligence and long-range fires. The concept of the MDTF brings together existing lethal and non-lethal capabilities by integrating and synchronizing them across multiple-domains— air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace — against a set of targets.
Exercises such as Northern Edge present unique and challenging opportunities for the Army’s newest MDTF to exercise multi-domain operations and contribute to the development of Joint All Domain Operations concepts. Col Zinn also stated that the 3rd MDTF is now postured to contribute to rotational and dynamic employments across the Indo-Pacific Region.