The creation of the medal comes as the Navy has ramped up operations and exercises in the Arctic in recent years.
The information provides a rare snapshot into military efforts to breach what is effectively the last frontier of gender integration.
As recently released data from the military services has shown, the participation of women in elite special operations roles remains a rarity.
The exercise sought to hone Navy EOD and diver skills within the chilly confines of a simulated Arctic environment.
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