2 US soldiers injured in brown bear attack during training exercise in Alaska

Two US Army soldiers have been injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, according to the military.The incident happened on Thursday as the soldiers were taking part in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s training area.The soldiers were receiving medical care as of Friday, a military official told the Anchorage Daily News. Queries sent to base were not immediately returned on Friday.The soldiers’ conditions were not released pending notification of relatives.Both soldiers used pepper spray on the bear, the official said. Few other details were available about the incident because it was still under investigation.Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson compound in Anchorage, Alaska. Soldiers are attacked by a bear while training in the compound on Thursday. Photo: TNS“The safety and well-being of our personnel is our highest priority,” Lieutenant Colonel Jo Nederhoed, a spokeswoman for the US Army 11th Airborne Division, said in an email to the Anchorage Daily News.