A guest of the Arctic Equipment Symposium tests a thermal blanket during a demonstration at Birch Hill ski area on Fort Wainwright, Feb. 6. The demonstration provided participants with hands-on experience using the cold-weather equipment at -30 F, highlighting shortfalls and needed improvements. The U.S. Army Alaska-sponsored symposium brought together service members from various cold weather and mountaineering schools across the U.S. military along with other high-level agencies to assess updates and changes needed for current cold weather equipment to enable Soldiers operating in the arctic and mountainous regions to perform better. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mylinda DuRousseau, 1st SBCT Public Affairs)