GRAYLING, Mich — One of the Department of Defense's largest military training exercises is scheduled to start this weekend in Michigan.
Northern Strike (NS) 24-2 brings more than 6,300 troops from 32 states along with five international partners to converge at Michigan's National All-Domain Warfighting Center for training (NADWC). It's scheduled to begin on Aug. 3 and continue through Aug. 17.
The NADWC includes the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and their associated airspace. Participants are also training in Lake Huron, Rogers City Quarry, Battle Creek, MBS International Airport, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airfield and K.I. Sawyer Airfield in Marquette.
This year’s summer iteration of the annual exercise will incorporate training scenarios involving homeland security and defense against unmanned aerial systems. Maritime training scenarios will focus on protecting high-value assets, as well as fixing, tracking and engaging targets in open water.
The training is designed to challenge those taking part and to fine-tune logistics, especially in contested environments.
“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.”
The Michigan National Guard first hosted Northern Strike in 2012.
“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 Northern Strike. “For instance, our Air Defense scenario was created from lessons learned from recent drone attacks in the Middle East.”
The Michigan National Guard said this exercise series brings a boost to the local economy, to the tune of $38 million in annual military pay, travel and spending in northern lower Michigan.
