Northern Strike returns to Michigan Aug. 3-17

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Bradley E. Emmett II, C-130 pilot with the 169th Airlift Squadron, uses the Real Time in Cockpit device aboard his C-130H3 Hercules while en route to Peoria, IL (Courtesy, Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer DVIDS)

By WKTV Staff

(Courtesy, DVIDS)

Northern Strike (NS) 24-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises, is scheduled to take place across Michigan from Aug. 3-17.

Over 6,300 participants from 32 states and territories and five international partners will converge at Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) for training focused on expeditionary skills, command and control, sustainment and joint integrated fires. This year’s summer iteration of the annual exercise will incorporate training scenarios involving homeland security and defense against unmanned aerial systems.

Additionally, maritime training scenarios will focus on protecting high-value assets, as well as fixing, tracking and engaging targets within littoral and open water environments. The Joint Personnel Recovery Agency will integrate with training units to test newly developed combat search, rescue and recovery systems during the exercise.

Meeting the needs of commanders across all domains of warfare

NS is the premier reserve component training event designed to build readiness with joint and partner forces in all domains of warfare. The NADWC encompasses the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and their associated airspace. NS participants are also conducting training in Lake Huron, Rogers City Quarry, Battle Creek, MBS International Airport, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airfield and K.I. Sawyer Airfield in Marquette.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Wyatt Brown, right, 2-211th Army Regiment flight medic, and Sgt. Brandin Frey, 2-211th Army Regiment aircraft mechanic, work together to communicate with pilots in a simulated Combat Search and Rescue mission (Courtesy, Staff Sgt. Paul Helming DVIDS 2021)

“This year’s schedule of NS training events reflects the abilities of Michigan and the NADWC to support Department of Defense objectives,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “We take pride in our ability to improve the exercise design each year, integrating innovative technologies and solutions into dynamic training to meet the needs of commanders across all domains of warfare.”

Maximizing training proficiencies and requirements

The Michigan National Guard (MING) began hosting NS in 2012 and it has since grown into a joint, multi-national exercise program. The exercise provides participating units a chance to conduct robust and relevant scenario-based, full-spectrum readiness training and complete mission essential tasks.

NS is a tailorable, scalable and cost-effective readiness producer, providing a venue for the units to maximize training proficiencies and requirements. The exercise is Army National Guard sponsored and a Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) accredited exercise providing readiness-building opportunities for all services.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Randy D. Fasig, C-130 navigator with the 182nd Operations Support Squadron, monitors his C-130H3 Hercules flight path (Courtesy, Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer 2014)

“Northern Strike is unique, not only because of the integration of defense innovators and academia, but because the exercise reflects the changes service members are seeing on the modern battlefield,” said Col. Todd Fitzpatrick, land exercise director for NS. “For instance, our Air Defense scenario was created from lessons learned from recent drone attacks in the Middle East.”

In addition to enhancing our nation’s defense capabilities, the exercise series also serves as an important boost to the local economy. It brings an average of $38 million to Michigan’s economy annually in military pay, travel and local spending in northern lower Michigan.