Sailors from VFA-103, Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., prepare to launch F/A-18 Super Hornets at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center during Operation Northern Strike, Aug. 18, 2014. Twenty-four units from 12 States and two Coalition partners will participate in the three-week event. Operation Northern Strike will occur from Aug. 4 - 22, 2014, at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. Over 300 Total Force fighter, bomber, mobility, and rotary sorties are planned in support of live fire exercises in order to meet stated objectives for participating units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton)