TRAVERSE CITY — More than 9,000 military personnel from 36 states and territories will gather with participants from five international allies for Northern Strike 26-2, this year’s second military readiness exercise of realistic, multi-domain training in northern Michigan.
Exercises are set to begin Aug. 3 across several areas of the Michigan National Guard’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center, which links locations across Camp Grayling and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The two-week series is anticipated to expand defense and force protection training through unmanned aircraft systems, aerial refueling operations and multiple support missions. Military medical personnel will also practice patient care exercises through simulated casualty scenarios.
According to a release published by the Michigan Department and Military and Veterans Affairs, Northern Strike serves as one of the largest reserve component readiness exercises of the U.S. Department of War.
“NS (Northern Strike) has become a proving ground for how the joint force will fight in the future,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers said in the release.
Earlier this year, Northern Strike 26-1 trained military personnel in winter exercises from Jan. 26-29, bracing Michigan National Guardsmen for excessive cold during simulated combat operations.
The summer iteration — the larger of the two Northern Strike exercises — places participants in multiple training scenarios, including ground operations, aerospace and cyberspace activities, live-fire arms exercises, as well as maritime training on lakes Michigan and Huron. The Joint Personnel Recovery Agency will also join troops to integrate combat search, rescue and recovery capabilities that provide support in large-scale combat operations.
Additional training locations include Rogers City Quarry, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airfield and K.I. Sawyer Airfield in Marquette.
“Michigan’s NADWC offers commanders an unmatched environment to integrate joint and allied forces, evaluate emerging technologies and train under realistic conditions across every operational domain,” Rogers added.
International participants in past exercises have included coalition allies — most notably the United Kingdom — alongside others representing partner nations.
Since the first exercise in 2012, Northern Strike has grown from a regional event to a joint training effort recognized around the world. According to the state department’s release, the training events generate an average of $44 million annually to the northern Michigan economy through military pay, travel and local spending.
Michigan has become one of the leading states contributing to the U.S. defense industry expansion in recent years after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established the state’s Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation in 2024.
According to a Detroit News report published July 22, the state offers multiple advantages for defense industry expansion, “from a combination of manufacturing capacity, engineering talent and military infrastructure that few regions can match.”
During World War II, Detroit became known as the “Arsenal of Democracy” because of it’s production of tanks and aircraft that supplied Allied forces on battlegrounds abroad. Now, defense industry startups are choosing Michigan as home to meet the Pentagon’s push to modernize U.S. military forces.
According to the report, Eric Patton — executive chair of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium (GVSETS) and founder of Ares Technology — highlights the region’s industrial base as “essential” as federal leaders aim to rebuild production capacity strained by global conflicts.
“We’re trying to speed up the rate at which we get new technology into the hands of the war fighter,” Patton told The Detroit News. “The status quo isn’t going to cut it in the next fight.”
The report also notes two Warren-based centers — the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) and the Ground Vehicle Systems Center — manage about 60% of the Army’s equipment.
Camp Grayling also plays a part in the state’s defense industry boost with several companies using the massive 147,000-acre facility to experiment with ground, air and water technologies.
“Michigan is uniquely situated because of the legacy we’ve had from automotive and defense,” Patton said. “We have a tremendous industrial base here that’s able to create things at scale.”
Northern Strike land exercise coordinator Col. Todd Fitzpatrick explained the current geopolitical climate is shifting the way the U.S. military and supportive industries approach combat and preparation for future operations.
“The character of warfare continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, and our training must evolve with it,” Fitzpatrick said in the state department’s release. “Every training event is designed to strengthen interoperability, accelerate innovation and ensure our forces are prepared for the missions they’ll face tomorrow.”
Rogers agreed, noting Michigan continues to envision its future in the defense industry with each Northern Strike event.
“The lessons learned here strengthens our nation’s readiness while reinforcing Michigan’s role as a leader in military innovation and all-domain warfighting,” Rogers said.
Motorists can expect increased military traffic beginning Aug. 1, and again on Aug. 15, as personnel and equipment move to and from Camp Grayling. Northern Michigan residents may also notice increased military aircraft activity during the exercise as flight personnel conduct scheduled training missions.