Michigan Hosts Largest Military Exercise: Northern Strike 2023

News Summary

From August 2 to August 16, 2023, Michigan will host the Northern Strike military exercise, the largest of its kind sponsored by the National Guard Bureau. Over 7,500 military personnel from across the nation and nine international partners will engage in diverse training scenarios at Camp Grayling and surrounding locations. This year’s focus on international interoperability and multi-domain operations reflects the evolving complexities of modern warfare, particularly in countering threats like cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems. The exercise aims to enhance military readiness and generate significant economic impact in the region.

Grayling, Michigan – From August 2 to August 16, 2023, Michigan will transform into a high-tech battlefield for the Northern Strike military exercise, which is the largest National Guard Bureau-sponsored military exercise in the nation. Over 7,500 participants from 36 states and territories, along with nine international partners, will converge at Camp Grayling to engage in this multifaceted training event.

The military personnel will be primarily based out of the Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), which includes the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center (CGJMTC) and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (Alpena CRTC), along with their associated airspace. This strategic location allows for diverse training scenarios that prepare U.S. and allied forces for a wide range of contemporary combat situations.

This year’s Northern Strike emphasizes the integration of international participants to bolster ally interoperability among the forces. A focus on readiness across multiple domains of warfare is central to the exercise, reflecting the current realities of modern battlefields where threats such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are increasingly prevalent. In light of recent global events, the necessity for effective training to detect, identify, intercept, and neutralize these threats has never been more crucial.

Training activities will not be limited to the Camp Grayling area; they will also take place at various locations including Lake Huron, Rogers City Quarry, Battle Creek, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airfield, and K.I. Sawyer Airfield in Marquette. Residents and travelers in Michigan should anticipate increased traffic during the exercise, as personnel move in and out of Grayling.

A range of military aircraft will feature in the training exercises, becoming a common sight throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula as the operations unfold. This heightened military presence not only serves training objectives but is also expected to generate a significant economic impact, with an estimated average of $38 million injected into Michigan’s economy annually from military pay, travel, and local spending.

The U.S. Army has underscored the continuous enhancements in exercise design to adapt to modern challenges, integrating new technologies such as counter-UAS systems. The training will employ multi-domain operations to ensure that troops are prepared for evolving defense needs.

Training scenarios will cover a variety of operational techniques, including maritime operations aimed at protecting high-value assets and ensuring freedom of navigation. Soldiers from different states, along with international partners, will also practice lifesaving techniques, combat search and rescue, and employ innovative operational technologies, further broadening the scope of their training experience.

The Michigan National Guard initiated the Northern Strike exercise in 2012 and has since expanded it into a collaborative joint and multinational program, engaging forces from various countries and diversifying the range of skills and experiences shared among participants.

As the Northern Strike military exercise progresses, the commitment to enhancing military readiness and operational capabilities among participants remains a central objective, reinforcing the importance of these large-scale training initiatives to address contemporary and future security challenges.

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