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By Colonel Mike Andrews / Published December 30, 2021
Master Sgt. John Eckert, detachment chief for the 23rd Space Operations Squadron Detachment 1, briefs Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna, SpOC senior enlisted leader, during their visit to Thule Air Base, Greenland, Dec. 17, 2021. Gen. Whiting and the SpOC command team traveled to Thule to meet with Airmen and Guardians from the 821st Air Base Group, 23 SOPS, and the 12th Space Warning Squadron to gain a better understanding of their current challenges and successes as Department of Defense’s northernmost installation located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle and only 947 miles south of the North Pole. Other areas discussed throughout the visit included initiatives to improve Thule’s Air Force Research Laboratory, Low-Earth Orbit, Starlink terminals, Communications Satellite upgrades, and support for U.S. Northern Command events in the Arctic. (U.S. Space Force photo by Master Sgt. Sara Keller)
Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna, SpOC senior enlisted leader, and Airmen, Guardians, and coalition partners from the 821st Air Base Group, 23rd Space Operations Squadron and the 12th Space Warning Squadron take a group photo at the dining facility during a visit from the SpOC command team’s visit to Thule Air Base, Greenland, Dec. 16 and 17, 2021. Gen. Whiting and the SpOC command team traveled to Thule to visit various locations throughout the base to better understand the current challenges Airmen and Guardians are facing in terms of mission and quality of life. Thule is the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle and only 947 miles south of the North Pole which brings significant challenges such as significant internet degradation, seasonal depression issues, and more. (U.S. Space Force photo by Master Sgt. Sara Keller)
Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, speaks with Airman 1st Class Avyon Pearson, 821st Security Forces Squadron, after recognizing her for superior performance while at Thule Air Base, Greenland, Dec. 17, 2021. Gen. Whiting and the SpOC command team traveled to Thule to meet with Airmen and Guardians from the 821st Air Base Group and the 12th Space Warning Squadron to gain a better understanding of their current challenges and successes. Thule is one of the most austere environments the Department of Defense operates from and all operations are powered and fueled internally, with the nearest populated village being over 70 miles away. Thule is the DoD’s northern most installation located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle and only 947 miles south of the North Pole. (U.S. Space Force photo by Master Sgt. Sara Keller)