Exercise Northern Strike

Last updated

Exercise Northern Strike
Northern Strike 18 180727-Z-CS591-1001.png
Exercise Northern Strike logo (2018)

Exercise Northern Strike is a military readiness exercise hosted annually at Michigan National Guard facilities, including the Alpena CRTC, Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Grayling Aerial Gunnery Range, the Carmeuse Calcite Quarry in Rogers City, the former site of K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base as well as over the skies of northern Michigan and Lake Huron.

Contents

The air operations will take place at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (ACRTC) & use the Grayling Air Gunnery Range, [1] while live-fire exercises involving small arms, mortars, artillery and aerial munitions will take place at the Camp Grayling range complex. Simulated-fire phases utilise the Carmeuse Calcite Quarry area during Exercise Northern Strike. [2]

Northern Strike is one of the United States Department of Defense's largest annual joint, reserve component readiness exercise. [3] The exercise is sponsored by the National Guard Bureau. [4]

History

Exercise Northern Strike began in 2011 with 500 participants engaged [5] to over 6000 soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines taking part Northern Strike 2019. [6] The three week exercise usually takes place in July or August each year. [7]

Northern Strike's primary mission is (C.A.S.) close air support, with secondary missions including air interdiction, airlift and airdrop, combat search and rescue, air-to-air refueling and intelligence, and both air and ground surveillance and reconnaissance. [8]

In January 2020, an additional arctic weather training exercise called Winter Strike was introduced. The first exercise lasted seven days, but the January session was expanded to ten days in subsequent years. [9] [10] [11]

Aerial Phase

Alpena CRTC is the focal point of air operations during Northern Strike. Fixed wing aircraft that frequently participate include the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16C Fighting Falcon, C-130 Hercules, MQ-9 Reaper, KC-135 Stratotanker, E-8C Joint STARS, F-18E/F, and EA-18. Rotary wing participates, including the UH-60 Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache, [12] AH-1W Super Cobra, CH-47 Chinook, and the UH-1Y Venom/Super Huey. [13]

Live and inert ordnance is expended on the Grayling Air Gunnery Range during the exercise. [14] Rockets, aircraft cannon fire, live guided/unguided bombs up to 500lb and 2000lb inert bombs in size can be used on the range. [15]

For 2021, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 354th Fighter Squadron and the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing along with two C-146A Wolfhounds from the Air Force Special Operations Command participated in the exercise. [16] The aircraft landed on state highway M-32 as part of Northern Strike 21, a large-scale training exercise, in Alpena, Michigan. This was the first ever use of a Highway strip on US soil. [17]

Ground Phase

The majority of the ground phase of Exercise Northern Strike takes place on the 147,000 acres of the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. The largest National Guard training center in the country. [18] Camp Grayling is the largest open airspace for training east of the Mississippi River. [19]

2016 saw the start of a major amphibious landing exercise being added to Northern Strike conducted by United States Marine Corps Forces on Lake Margrethe at Camp Grayling. [20]

Northern Strike 2017 saw more than 30 Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from around the globe take part. JTACs use specialized equipment to direct combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward observation position. Sometimes JTACs direct defensive air power for rescue evacuations. They are also called Forward Air Controllers (FACs) and usually work with Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) who assist with tracking and location identification. [21]

On July 18, 2019, during Northern Strike 2019 saw the first time a remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper took off and landed in Michigan airspace. The MQ-9 "Reaper" from the 214th Attack Group, Arizona Air National Guard was operating from the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. [22] MQ-9 "Reapers" used in previous Northern Strike exercises had been flown from their home base. [23]

Greater emphasis has been put on medical and aeromedical procedures in recent Northern Strike. [24] This includes setting up a mobile patient staging area from the ground up, loading, unloading and in-flight care of patients. [25] Combat Search and Rescue and the treatment of injured aircrew is regularly practiced during Northern Strike exercises. [26] Patient resuscitation is a key skill practiced by personnel while attending Northern Strike. [27]

International Participants

Troops from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Estonia, Jordan, [28] Canada, [29] Denmark, [30] Lithuania, [31] The Netherlands, [32] Germany, Hungary, [33] Poland [34] and Latvia have participated in previous Northern Strike exercises. [35]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan National Guard</span>

The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard. The State adjutant general is Major general Paul D. Rogers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper</span> Unmanned aerial vehicle

The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper is an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF). The MQ-9 and other UAVs are referred to as Remotely Piloted Vehicles/Aircraft (RPV/RPA) by the USAF to indicate ground control by humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Air National Guard</span> United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit

The Michigan Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Michigan, United States of America. It is, along with the Michigan Army National Guard, an element of the Michigan National Guard. The Michigan Air National Guard is also an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMU-1</span> Military unit

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) is an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the MQ-9A Reaper. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

VMUT-2 Military unit

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2 (VMUT-2) is an unmanned aerial vehicle training squadron in the United States Marine Corps that is transitioning from operating the RQ-21A Blackjack to the MQ-9A Reaper. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina and will serve as the MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, training UAS officers and enlisted sensor operators. Historically, VMUT-2 provided aerial surveillance, offensive air support, and electronic warfare for the II Marine Expeditionary Force. VMUT-2 falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">174th Attack Wing</span> Unit of the New York Air National Guard

The 174th Attack Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York. The 174th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118th Wing</span> Military unit

The 118th Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Berry Field, formerly Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tennessee. The 118th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, it is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

Camp Grayling is a military training facility located near Grayling, Michigan, primarily in Crawford County, and spread over three counties. Camp Grayling is the main training facility for the Michigan National Guard and is the largest US National Guard training facility in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">182nd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 182d Airlift Wing is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Peoria Air National Guard Base, Peoria, Illinois. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">178th Wing</span> Military unit

The 178th Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport ANG complex, Springfield, Ohio. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC), with elements of the wing gained by the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exercise Northern Edge</span>

Exercise Northern Edge is a military joint training exercise conducted by the United States Armed Forces in the Gulf of Alaska. Alaskan Command (ALCOM) uses expansive Alaskan training ranges to conduct this joint training operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">162nd Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 162nd Attack Squadron is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard 178th Wing located at Springfield Air National Guard Base, Springfield, Ohio. The 162nd is equipped with the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100th Fighter Squadron</span> United States Air National Guard fighter wing

The 100th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard 187th Fighter Wing located at Dannelly Field, Alabama. The 100th is equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">138th Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 138th Attack Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing located at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. The 138th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway strip</span> Section of a public road acting as a runway for aircraft

A highway strip, road runway or road base is a section of a highway, motorway or other form of public road that is specially built to act as a runway for (mostly) military aircraft and to serve as an auxiliary military air base. These runways allow military aircraft to continue operating even if their regular air bases, some of the most vulnerable targets in any war, are degraded or destroyed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 49th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 49th Wing. It is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is a part of Air Combat Command (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persistent Close Air Support</span> Close Air Support

Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) is a DARPA program that seeks to demonstrate dramatic improvements in close air support (CAS) capabilities by developing a system to allow continuous CAS availability and lethality to Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center</span> Michigan Air National Guard training facility

Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center is a Michigan Air National Guard training facility. It is located 7.1 miles (11.4 km) west-northwest of Alpena, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Draken International</span> American provider of fighter aircraft

Draken International, LLC is an American provider of tactical fighter aircraft for contract air services including military and defense industry customers. The firm is based at the Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida and also has an operating base at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Saber Strike</span>

Saber Strike is an annual international exercise held since 2010 by the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) focused on the Baltic States. The exercise spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and involves approximately 2,000 troops from 14 countries.

References

  1. ↑ "A-10 Bomber completes training scenarios" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Exercise Northern Strike Returns" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Exercise Northern Strike returns to northern Michigan" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "Northern Strike was the department of Defense's largest Joint, Reserve-component exercise of the year" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Exercise Northern Strike Earns JNTC Accreditation" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  6. ↑ "C-130 aircrew performs combat airdrops at Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Northern Strike 2018" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "Northern Strike 2018" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Northern Strike 20-2/"Winter Strike"" . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Wisconsin Soldiers Love the 'Big Boom' at Winter Strike 21" . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Northern Strike 22-1 brings arctic training to Michigan" . Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pennsylvania Apaches in Operation Northern Strike" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. ↑ "U.S., multinational forces to train in Michigan during Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "A-10s at Grayling Air to Ground Range during Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Grayling DPTMS" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "A-10s land on Michigan state highway" . Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Michigan Air National Guard landing military jets on M-32 near Alpena".
  18. ↑ "Camp Grayling" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "CMichigan Air National Guard seeks to update training capability, readiness with airspace proposal" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "Northern Strike 16 Begins" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "Exercise Northern Strike Earns JNTC Accreditation" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  22. ↑ "Historic MQ-9 flight in Michigan sets stage for integrated, joint fires training at Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "Remotely piloted MQ-9 mission adds value to joint training at Northern Strike" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  24. ↑ "U.S., multinational forces to train in Michigan during Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  25. ↑ "Exercise Northern Strike" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  26. ↑ "Air National Guard pararescue specialists train at Northern Strike 18" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  27. ↑ "Michigan Guard artilleryman trains to carry on life-saving family tradition" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  28. ↑ "Royal Welsh deploy to Michigan" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  29. ↑ "Operation Northern Strike 2014" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  30. ↑ "National Guard, Home Guard Continue International Relationship" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  31. ↑ "Men and women train for battle during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  32. ↑ "Dutch JTACs train during Northern Strike 19" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  33. ↑ "Grayling welcomes U.S. and foreign troops to Northern Strike training exercise in Pure Michigan fashion" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  34. ↑ "Northern Strike 17: Thousands of military personnel train at Camp Grayling" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  35. ↑ "Northern Strike 19 fosters Michigan-Latvia cooperation" . Retrieved 2 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.