11th Airborne Division Activates Installation Reception Companies as Arctic Force Grows
The activation comes as the 11th Airborne Division continues to grow its formations and strengthen its ability to operate across the Arctic. The new companies will serve as the first point of contact for many Soldiers arriving to the division, introducing them to the standards, culture and unique demands of serving in one of the Army’s most challenging environments.
“This is America’s Arctic,” said Lt. Col. Chris Gensler. “Our operational environment is defined by extremes, bone-chilling cold, unforgiving terrain, and unrelenting operational demands. Out here, the environment does not negotiate.”
Gensler emphasized that preparing Soldiers for those conditions begins before they reach their first training event or tactical formation. The Installation Reception Companies are designed to go beyond traditional in processing by helping Soldiers and families understand how to live, train and operate successfully in Alaska.
“We aren't just checking in processing boxes or handing out cold-weather gear,” Gensler said. “We are teaching Soldiers and their families how to adapt, how to master the elements, and how to thrive in the harshest conditions on Earth.”
At JBER, Capt. Sommer Stevens assumed command of the Installation Reception Company with Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Pagano serving as the senior enlisted leader. The company’s cadre, known as the Arctic Graylings, were selected from across the division to represent the standards and culture of the Arctic Angels.
At Fort Wainwright, Capt. Jeremiah Fulford assumed command alongside 1st Sgt. Gerardo Carrionpena. There, the cadre, known as the Wolverines, will perform the same mission for Soldiers and families arriving to the division’s Interior Alaska formations.
For the division, the mission is about more than receiving new personnel. It is about establishing the standard from the moment a Soldier arrives.
As the 11th Airborne Division grows, the two companies will help ensure incoming Soldiers are prepared to contribute quickly to their formations while building the resilience required to operate in the Arctic.
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