View source for Exercise Northern Strike

{{Short description|Military exercise}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = '''Exercise Northern Strike'''
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| caption =  Exercise Northern Strike logo (2018)
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'''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 [[Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company|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]].

The air operations will take place at [[Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center]] (ACRTC) & use the Grayling Air Gunnery Range,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000225321/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=A-10 Bomber completes training scenarios}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minationalguard.dodlive.mil/exercise-northern-strike-returns/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Exercise Northern Strike Returns}}</ref>

Northern Strike is one of the [[United States Department of Defense]]'s largest annual joint, reserve component readiness exercise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/exercise-northern-strike-returns-to-northern-strike|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Exercise Northern Strike returns to northern Michigan}}</ref> The exercise is sponsored by the National Guard Bureau.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/photo-gallery-exercise-northern-strike|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike was the department of Defense's largest Joint, Reserve-component exercise of the year}}</ref>

==History==
Exercise Northern Strike began in 2011 with 500 participants engaged<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/243328/exercise-northern-strike-earns-jntc-accreditation|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Exercise Northern Strike Earns JNTC Accreditation}}</ref> to over 6000 soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines taking part Northern Strike 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.182aw.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1919383/c-130-aircrew-performs-combat-airdrops-at-northern-strike-19/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=C-130 aircrew performs combat airdrops at Northern Strike 19}}</ref> The three week exercise usually takes place in July or August each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1596710/northern-strike-2018/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1596710/northern-strike-2018/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/WinterStrike20 |title=Northern Strike 20-2/"Winter Strike" |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/387590/wisconsin-soldiers-love-big-boom-winter-strike-21 |title=Wisconsin Soldiers Love the 'Big Boom' at Winter Strike 21 |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/2894831/northern-strike-22-1-brings-arctic-training-to-michigan/ |title=Northern Strike 22-1 brings arctic training to Michigan |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref>

==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,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helis.com/database/news/ah-64_pa_ng/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Pennsylvania Apaches in Operation Northern Strike}}</ref> AH-1W Super Cobra, CH-47 Chinook, and the UH-1Y Venom/Super Huey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/331900/us-multinational-forces-train-michigan-during-northern-strike-19|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=U.S., multinational forces to train in Michigan during Northern Strike 19}}</ref>

Live and inert ordnance is expended on the Grayling Air Gunnery Range during the exercise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5631509/10s-grayling-air-ground-range-during-northern-strike-19|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=A-10s at Grayling Air to Ground Range during Northern Strike 19}}</ref> Rockets, aircraft cannon fire, live guided/unguided bombs up to 500lb and 2000lb inert bombs in size can be used on the range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grayling.minationalguard.com/dptms/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Grayling DPTMS}}</ref>

For 2021,  A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 354th Fighter Squadron and the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing along with two  [[Dornier 328|C-146A Wolfhounds]] from the Air Force Special Operations Command participated in the exercise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2721902/a-10s-land-on-michigan-state-highway/|accessdate=25 August 2021|title=A-10s land on Michigan state highway}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc12.com/2021/07/29/michigan-air-national-guard-landing-military-jets-m-32-near-alpena/|title=Michigan Air National Guard landing military jets on M-32 near Alpena|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825212247/https://www.abc12.com/2021/07/29/michigan-air-national-guard-landing-military-jets-m-32-near-alpena/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minationalguard.dodlive.mil/camp-grayling/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Camp Grayling}}</ref> Camp Grayling is the largest open airspace for training east of the Mississippi River.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/306220/michigan-air-national-guard-seeks-update-training-capability-readiness-with-airspace-proposal|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=CMichigan Air National Guard seeks to update training capability, readiness with airspace proposal}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minationalguard.dodlive.mil/477-2/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike 16 Begins}}</ref>

Northern Strike 2017 saw more than 30 [[Joint Terminal Attack Controller]]s (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 Controller]]s (FACs) and usually work with [[Joint Fires Observer]]s (JFOs) who assist with tracking and location identification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/243328/exercise-northern-strike-earns-jntc-accreditation|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Exercise Northern Strike Earns JNTC Accreditation}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1928251/historic-mq-9-flight-in-michigan-sets-stage-for-integrated-joint-fires-training/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Historic MQ-9 flight in Michigan sets stage for integrated, joint fires training at Northern Strike 19}}</ref> MQ-9 "Reapers" used in previous Northern Strike exercises had been flown from their home base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article/1271231/remotely-piloted-mq-9-mission-adds-value-to-joint-training-at-northern-strike/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Remotely piloted MQ-9 mission adds value to joint training at Northern Strike}}</ref>

Greater emphasis has been put on medical and aeromedical procedures in recent Northern Strike.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/331900/us-multinational-forces-train-michigan-during-northern-strike-19|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=U.S., multinational forces to train in Michigan during Northern Strike 19}}</ref> This includes setting up a mobile patient staging area from the ground up, loading, unloading and in-flight care of patients.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/photo-gallery-exercise-northern-strike|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Exercise Northern Strike }}</ref>  Combat Search and Rescue and the treatment of injured aircrew is regularly practiced during Northern Strike exercises.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/1601562/air-national-guard-pararescue-specialists-train-at-northern-strike-18/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Air National Guard pararescue specialists train at Northern Strike 18}}</ref> Patient resuscitation is a key skill practiced by personnel while attending Northern Strike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ns.minationalguard.com/michigan-guard-artilleryman-trains-to-carry-on-life-saving-family-tradition/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Michigan Guard artilleryman trains to carry on life-saving family tradition}}</ref>

==International Participants==
Troops from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Estonia, Jordan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/07/royal-welsh-deploy-to-michigan/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Royal Welsh deploy to Michigan}}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000932455/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Operation Northern Strike 2014}}</ref> Denmark,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minationalguard.com/national-guard-home-guard-continue-international-relationship-danish-officer-awarded-for-work-with-partnership/|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=National Guard, Home Guard Continue International Relationship }}</ref> Lithuania,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nbc25news.com/news/local/men-and-women-train-for-battle-during-northern-strike-at-camp-grayling|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Men and women train for battle during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling}}</ref> The Netherlands,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5632576/dutch-jtacs-train-during-northern-strike-19|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Dutch JTACs train during Northern Strike 19}}</ref> Germany, Hungary,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@RickSnyder/grayling-welcomes-u-s-5aa79bfd2c2a|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Grayling welcomes U.S. and foreign troops to Northern Strike training exercise in Pure Michigan fashion}}</ref> Poland<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/northern-strike-17-thousands-of-military-personnel-train-at-camp-grayling|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike 17: Thousands of military personnel train at Camp Grayling}}</ref> ,Latvia and the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]) have participated in previous Northern Strike exercises.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/225238/northern_strike_19_fosters_michigan_latvia_cooperation|accessdate=2 October 2019|title=Northern Strike 19 fosters Michigan-Latvia cooperation}}</ref>

==Gallery==

{{Gallery
|width=200
|height=150
|File:A-10 Grayling Air Gunnery Range.png|A-10 strafes a target at the Grayling Air Gunnery Range
|File:MQ-9 Reaper during Exercise Northern Strike 2019.png|[[MQ-9 Reaper]] during Exercise Northern Strike 2019
|File:Pararescuemen Carmeuse Calcite Quarry 2018.png|Pararescuemen from the 103rd RS, Westhampton Beach, NY, parachute into Carmeuse Calcite Quarry (Ex. Northern Strike 2018)
|File:3rd Prince of Wales Royal Regiment Exercise Northern Edge 2018.png|Troops from 3rd battalion, [[Princess of Wales Royal Regiment]] practice breach and clear operations at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training 
|File:German Joint Terminal Attack Controllers Exercise Northern Strike 2018.png|German Joint Terminal Attack Controllers during Exercise Northern Strike 2018
|File:Marines from Company A, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division U.S.M.C.F.R. Northern Strike 2018.png|Marines from Company A, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division U.S.M.C. Forces Reserve at Lake Margrethe, Camp Grayling, Michigan during Exercise Northern Strike 2018
|File:Michigan ANG soldiers fire a 155 mm M777 Howitzer, at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center during Exercise Northern Strike 2016.jpg|Michigan ANG soldiers fire a 155 mm M777 Howitzer, at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center during Exercise Northern Strike 2016
|File:A-10 Thunderbolt II drops live Mk 82, 500lb bombs on the Grayling Aerial Gunnery Range during Exercise Northern Strike 2014.png|A-10 Thunderbolt II drops live Mk 82, 500lb bombs on the Grayling Aerial Gunnery Range during Exercise Northern Strike 2014
|File:The Alpena CRTC MOUT Area.png|The Alpena CRTC MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) Area
|File:U.S. Marines from Echo Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Lake Margrethe, Exercise Northern Strike 2017.png|U.S. Marines from Echo Company, [[4th Reconnaissance Battalion]], 4th Marine Division, [[Marine Forces Reserve]], Helocast into [[Lake Margrethe]], Exercise Northern Strike 2017
|182nd ASOG TACP in Exercise Northern Strike 2013.jpg|182nd Air Support Operations Group pictured during Exercise Northern Strike 2013
|File:Pararescue specialists Exercise Northern Strike 2018.png|Pararescue specialists from the [[103d Rescue Squadron]], NY, evacuate a casualty during a Combat Search & Rescue exercise at Northern Strike 2018
|File:A-10 Highway US Michigan.jpg|An A-10 Thunderbolt II from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, takes off on a public highway in Alpena, Michigan, August 5, 2021
|File:C-146A Wolfhound from Hurlburt Field, Florida.jpg|C-146A Wolfhound from Hurlburt Field, Florida, takes off on a public highway in Alpena, Michigan, August 5, 2021
|File:A-10 Highway US Michigan 2021 - Landing.jpg|An A-10 Thunderbolt II from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, prepares to land on a public highway in Alpena, Michigan, August 5, 2021
|File:210809-M-ML146-1007.jpg|Marine Reserve at Exercise Northern Strike 21-2
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.alpenacrtc.ang.af.mil/ Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center Official site]

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[[Category:United States Air Force exercises]]
[[Category:United States Army exercises]]
[[Category:Military in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan Army National Guard]]
[[Category:National Guard (United States)]]
[[Category:Army National Guard (United States)| ]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]