At the northernmost permanently inhabited place on earth, approximately 508 miles from the North Pole, more than 60 personnel conduct signals intelligence at Canadian Forces Station Alert, and its detachment stations.
By nature of their austere geographical location and with limited access during the year, the station requires a large semiannual resupply mission to get them through the harsh Greenland winters and operate at full capability to complete their mission.
Each year, two operations, titled Operation Boxtop 1 and Operation Boxtop 2, are conducted from Thule Air Base, Greenland, with the primary mission of delivering ultra-low sulfur diesel, called JP-8 fuel, and mobile support equipment. This year, a Royal Canadian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 8th Wing Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Canada, are carrying the cargo to resupply CFS Alert with support from the 821st Mission Support Group at Thule A
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