Getting Serious with the Slædepatruljen Sirius in Greenland

When you think of Greenland, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not an elite unit of sled dog loving Danish soldiers. This is unless of course, you are a Danish boy growing up and dreaming of living and working in one of the most incredible places on earth. The Sirius Patrol is a unique Navy unit that enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness of Northern Greenland. They use sled dogs to patrol Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world.

Getting selected into the Sirius Patrol is considered an honor in the Danish military and the process is extremely competitive. It could be compared with joining the Navy Seals in the United States. Once selected, Sirius patrollers spend one year on Greenland, working out of the unit’s main base at Daneborg. Upon their arrival, the soldiers are assigned a team of specially bred Greenlandic sled dogs. They are 100% responsible for the care and training of their team from that point forward. For the first 6 months of their tour, soldiers hone their skills and build the specialty equipment they will need for patrolling; including their rifle case, sleeping bag and sled. Later, they go out on extended forays into the park for up to four months at a time in the dead of winter with another member of the unit. They monitor and survey environmental changes and protect resources from poaching and unlawful use.

Along with being incredibly hardy, devoted and highly trained, these are some seriously cool guys.