Northern Strike returns to Camp Grayling, Alpena Aug. 5-19

Gaylord Herald Times
·1 min read

GRAYLING — Northern Strike 23-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, is scheduled for Aug. 5-19 in Michigan.

Over 7,000 participants from 25 states, one territory and several international partners will converge at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) for training focused on expeditionary skills, command and control, sustainment and joint integrated fires. The NADWC encompasses the Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Northern Michigan.

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 perform close-air support near Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center on Aug. 10, 2022. Northern Strike 23-2 is set to begin on Aug. 5.
U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 perform close-air support near Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center on Aug. 10, 2022. Northern Strike 23-2 is set to begin on Aug. 5.

Northern Strike participants are also conducting training at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airfield. Unique to this year’s exercise design is the integration of Intra-Theater medical care training, where participants will evacuate simulated patients to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin for follow-on treatment.

The Michigan National Guard began hosting Northern Strike in 2012 and it has since grown into a joint, multi-national exercise program.

“Michigan is excited to serve as host of the NS exercise again this year,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in a statement. “The Northern Strike venue affords units training in Michigan the opportunity to train alongside our multicomponent, multinational, and interagency partners. Each year this exercise continues to provide dynamic, challenging, and collective training which closely replicates what our soldiers and airmen could face in real world situations.”

“As the NS enterprise continues to develop, the level of training provided to the participants becomes more challenging,” said Col. Scott Meyers, Commander of the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. “The NADWC has the resources and capabilities that are able to support such dynamic training events.”

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northern Strike returns to Camp Grayling, Alpena Aug. 5-19