CONTACT: Capt. Matt Wunderlin | [email protected] | 608-427-1774

by Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

CAMP DOUGLAS, Wis. — Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center is in the midst of the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise, which runs Aug. 13-24.

The exercise features aircraft and personnel from multiple active duty Air Force, National Guard, Marine and Navy units, and this year’s edition represents the largest exercise ever conducted at Volk Field with more than 1,600 personnel and 60 aircraft participating.

Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at a Combat Readiness Training Center, and participants hail from units based in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Additionally, international partners are on site to observe portions of the exercise.

The first phase of Northern Lightning 2018 ran May 14-25, and the second phase concludes Aug. 24. Northern Lightning emphasizes air interdiction and fourth- and fifth-generation fighter integration, while focusing specifically on unit aircrew training objectives to prepare participating units for both their state and federal missions.

Volk Field is one of four combat readiness training centers in the country. It specializes in counterland operations, and is able to blend live and synthetic training domains. It has a 9,000-foot military-use only runway able to accommodate most military aircraft, and a 30,000 cubic mile airspace up to 50,000 feet. It is well equipped and situated to meet most aircrew training needs.

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