National Guard readiness training held at Ontonagon airport

By JAN TUCKER

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Ontonagon - The Ontonagon Airport, Schuster Field, was the scene of a simulated rescue mission as part of Operation Northern Strike 2018 hosted by the Combined Readiness Training Center in Grayling last week.

The largest National Guard training in the U.S. came back to northern Michigan with Operation Northern Strike at Camp Grayline and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. They were there to train over 6,000 members of the military from all over the globe for combat.

From air to the ground, personnel from nearly every branch of the military were in Northern Michigan to learn to work as one.

Maj. General Mike Stone, Assistant Adjutant General for the Michigan Army National Guard noted that C ongress has mandated that all Army Navy, Air Force and Marines all work together in training. The big focus is that Northern Strike promotes is to train together how they would fight. All four service branches came to Camp Grayling.

Col. Andrew Roberts, U.S. Airforce, said "When we go into combat together the artillery hits the bad guys, and the good guys are maneuvering and staying alive and taking their objective." It was noted that training to work together as one is one way more service members can get home safely.

Last week that training came to the Ontonagon Airport. According to Airport Manager Margo Anderson, the group simulated a combat search and rescue mission. They were rescuing a downed aircrew member from behind enemy lines. The event was supported by the Air Force, Army and Navy. Three A-10s and 2 HH-60s circled the air space.

Anderson called the exercise "spectacular to observe." She added the 104th Fighter Squadron members were grateful to use the Ontonagon Airport facility to get that kind of training and relayed the importance of the Ontonagon Airport for many uses.