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Michigan National Guard Leading 'Arctic Eagle' Training Exercise Up North

LANSING (WWJ) - National Guard members from across Michigan will be taking part in a joint military exercise up north starting Friday.

About 1,000 soldiers, airmen, sailors and other military personnel will join members of the Danish Army at Camp Grayling and other Up North locations to work on a variety of scenarios.

The exercise, called Arctic Eagle, will look at ways to secure the U.S. from natural and man-made threats as well as how to respond to any security issues in the region.

Helicopters and other aircraft will be used in parts of the exercise.

"This exercise supports Northern Command's and Alaska's Arctic security strategies," exercise director Col. Thomas Perison said in a statement. "It will help identify further ways to secure the Arctic from natural and man-made threats as well as how to respond to any security issues in that region."

At the Rogers City and Cheboygan ports, soldiers from Indiana and Massachusetts will practice loading vehicles and equipment onto barges for sea movement during the April 4-5 timeframe.

In Mackinaw City, the exercise takes place on April 5 and primarily focuses on Coast Guard operations.

In Grayling at the Munson Hospital, the exercise will consist of Soldiers from the Indiana Army National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and local authorities. The casualty treatment/decontamination operations will take place on April 5-6.

At the Grayling Army Airfield, units will conduct quick reaction drills responding to local disaster needs.

At Camp Grayling, on April 6-12, the exercise will take place at the newly constructed Combined Arms Collective Training Facility. Soldiers from the Danish Home Guard as well as Marines, will secure the infrastructure on the CACTF as if they were securing a real community from threats.

"We do our very best to minimize inconvenience to our surrounding communities," said Perison. "We value their partnerships and their support as we train to defend this great nation and our allies."

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