NS18

Soldiers from the 1-296th Infantry Battalion, Puerto Rico National Guard, and security forces from Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., participated in a base defense exercise, Aug. 9, 2018, Northern Strike 18 at Alpena CRTC, Alpena, Mich. During the exercise the soldiers, gained knowledge on base defense procedures during a simulated security breach on an airfield. Northern Strike 18 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting service members from many states, multiple service branches and a number of coalition countries during the first three weeks of August 2018 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capabilities exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard's ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason A. Boyd/released)