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National Guard’s Northern Strike coming to U.P.

MARQUETTE — One of the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises is scheduled to take place Monday through Wednesday in the Upper Peninsula with some chances for public viewing available.

Flying operations are expected on and above Ontonagon-Schuster Field in Ontonagon and Sawyer International Airport in Gwinn as part of the Northern Strike 21-2 military training events.

The public will have chances to view operations over the Ontonagon-Schuster Field, as it will remain open for people to view the military training at 35932 Airport Road in Ontonagon, off M-64, officials said.

The public can watch from around the terminal building parking lot area, up to the tree line in the field across from it, according to a news release from the Michigan National Guard.

During the three-day period, a variety of aircraft are expected to participate, including fighter jets, refuelers and helicopters.

“There will be A-10, CH-53, C-130, and KC-135 operations up there, with the helicopters and A-10s over the Ontonagon-Schuster Field airport,” Penny Carroll, chief of the National Guard’s Public Affairs, said in an email. “There will also be some ground troop movement in Baraga State Forest during those days of the exercise.”

Officials said they look forward to the training exercises.

“The Upper Peninsula has a long history of Air Force operations,” Matthew Trumble, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, National Strike air component program manager, said in the release. “We are excited to able to use the great resources available to us in the area and appreciate all of the support from the surrounding communities.”

The events are one aspect of the Michigan National Guard’s Northern Strike 21-2 exercise, which is scheduled to take place across northern Michigan from Saturday to Aug. 14.

Around 5,100 participants from various states and countries will converge at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center for training.

The National All-Domain Warfighting Center encompasses the Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena CRTC.

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