Annual military exercise in Alaska canceled
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. military officials say the massive Northern Edge exercise held biennially in Alaska has been cancelled this year because of the latest federal budget cuts.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner says this year's exercise had been scheduled to run from June 17 to June 28.
Northern Edge involves thousands of U.S. personnel from various branches of the armed forces.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Alaskan Command says the cancellation does not mean an end to Northern Edge. It says "Alaska remains an extremely important part" in supporting national interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
The cancellation follows a recent Air Force announcement that the annual Red Flag exercise that had been scheduled for this month in Alaska was being canceled, also because of federal budget cutbacks.