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Welcome to Thule AFB
"BGTL"
Thule Air Base
is the United States Air Force’s northernmost base – (76 32’ North
latitude, 68 50’ West longitude) located 695 miles North of the Arctic
Circle, and 947 miles south of the North Pole on the Northwest side of
the island of Greenland. It is approximately 550 miles east of the North
Magnetic Pole. The arctic, referred to as a “cold desert,” gets very
little precipitation annually. The name “Arctic,” derived from the Greek
word “arktos,” meaning “bear,” refers to the constellation Ursa Major,
or Great Bear, which appears prominently in the northern sky.
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On behalf of
Military Commander Ken Paulick, commander Transload Military. I am
pleased to welcome you to the top of the world!
Thule is the U.S. Armed Forces' northernmost installation, located 750
miles north of the Arctic Circle. Thule's arctic environment
offers some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in the world,
including majestic icebergs in the North Star Bay, the massive polar ice
cap, and Wolstenholme Fjord, the only place on earth where three active
glaciers join together.
Thule Air Base is home to the 821st Air Base Group, which exercises Air
Base support responsibilities within the Thule Defense Area for the
multi-national and multi-cultural population of Team Thule. The
base hosts the 12th Space Warning Squadron, a Ballistic Missile Early
Warning Site designed to detect and track Intercontinental Ballistic
Missiles (ICBMs) launched against North America. The unit is one
of 16 sensors the 21st Space Wing operates around the world to provide
missile warning and space surveillance information to North American
Aerospace Defense (NORAD) command centers located in Cheyenne Mountain,
Colorado. Thule is also host to Detachment 3 of the 22nd Space
Operations Squadron, part of the 50th Space Wing's global satellite
control network. In addition, our modern aerodrome boasts a 10,000
foot runway and 2,600 U.S. and international flights per year, and Thule
is home to the northernmost deep water port in the world.
This assignment will be one that you will never forget. It is truly a
remarkable place with fun and exciting people, exotic places to see and
a world of adventure.
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