Photo By Staff Sgt. Ryan Bishop | Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Kramer II, Assistant Adjutant General of Michigan Air National...... read more read more
OSCODA, MI. – Airmen assigned to the 110th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, are participating in Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 in Oscoda and other locations across Michigan from August 3 to August 7, 2026. For the 110th Wing, this exercise represents the opportunity to demonstrate agile combat employment. What began as just an empty field in Oscoda was transformed into a Forward Operating Site by the 110th Civil Engineering Squadron. Airmen operated a 10,000-pound front-end loader moving equipment, including generators and environmental control units, which were coordinated in a joint effort with the 200th RED HORSE Squadron in Ohio.
When asked what she was most proud of, Exercise Detachment Commander 1st Lt. Christena DeJong said, "Seeing our Airmen integrate with the Army to help each other accomplish the mission." Once on-site, 110th Power Production Airmen rapidly established essential services and assisted in troubleshooting a generator for the Michigan Army National Guard. Concurrently, the 110th Fire Department supported the joint efforts by executing operations that most had never done before, such as drafting water from a local lake to fill their trucks.
Other support units overcame real-world challenges through innovation. The 110th Force Support Squadron (FSS) set up a fully functioning field kitchen to keep the Airmen fed and the Chaplain Corps brought their mobile support trailer to provide vital care to members on-site. When asked what her biggest takeaway was from the exercise, A1C Amelia Caspari-Maddox of the 110th FSS said, “We have learned so many valuable lessons.” At the tactical command level, the Wing’s Command Post integrated directly to receive and disseminate messaging to the air detachment. Airmen also had the opportunity to observe the Army's flight-following procedures, ensuring seamless synchronization between land and air elements in a contested theater. The 217th Air Component Operations Squadron deployed an emerging 5G communication system. This technology allowed the team to visualize the battle space in real time and consolidate communications across the joint forces, a capability that would have been impossible to field without support from key defense industry partners.
Northern Strike 26-2 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in a degraded and contested environment.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2026 10:43 |
| Story ID: | 571917 |
| Location: | BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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