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This summer has flown by at the usual pace of National Guard summers. We have sent Soldiers and Airmen literally all over the globe in service to this great country. From Afghanistan to Latvia to Camp Grayling to the streets of your hometown, the Michigan National Guard has been busy. Due to some technical difficulties, the August and September issues of the Wolverine Guard have vanished from our database. In light of this, this issue will take on the role of a 3rd Quarter roll-up. Take a few minutes and browse through some of the highlights of these past few months!
State Tuition Assistance Program
Some big news for the Guard is the start of the State Tuition Assistance Program. Now Guard members may be eligible for up to $4,500 per academic year. For more information, check out the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website.
XCTC
July marked the first time active component units integrated with reserve component units for validation during an eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. Several Army National Guard units from Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and West Virginia joined the active component's 10th Mountain Division in the training lanes evaluated by reserve component's 1st Army at Camp Grayling.
Operation Northern Strike
In August, Northern Strike 2014 brought 12 states and two international coalition partners to Camp Grayling and Alpena Combat Readiness Training center for the third annual Operation Northern Strike. The focus of the three-week event was to provide tailored, cost effective, and realistic combat training for our National Guard in a Joint and Multinational environment.
1073rd Receives Army Award for Maintenance Excellence
On September 10, Greenville-based, Michigan Army National Guard 1073rd Support Maintenance Company received the prestigious Army Award for Maintenance Excellence in the Medium Military Table of Organization and Equipment category.
1460th Homecoming
After an 11-month tour of service in Afghanistan, more than 150 Michigan National Guard Soldiers from the 1460th Transportation Company were welcomed home Sept. 23, 2014 at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Mich.
Operation Silver Arrow
Michigan Soldiers from the 177th Military Police Brigade are currently in Latvia to participating in a military exercise this month as part of a continuing effort to nurture the Michigan Army National Guard’s partnership with the Baltic nation’s armed forces.
State Tuition Assistance Program
 On July 1, 2014, Gov. Rick Snyder signed Public Act 259 of 2014 establishing the State Tuition Assistance Program to provide tuition assistance of up to $4,500 per academic year to members of the Michigan National Guard.
You may be eligible for this benefit! For more information, see the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs information website.
XCTC 2014 at Camp Grayling
 Soldiers assigned to gun two, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Artillery Regiment, MIchigan National Guard, fire the M777A1 howitzer during the eXportable Combat Training Capability Exercise, held at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Mich., July 18, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremy Miller/Released)
Bridging the Mississippi with the 1437th
 CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. -The 1437th Multi-Role Bridge Company of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Michigan Army National Guard, successfully completed a bridge across the Mississippi River, July 24, 2014. During their annual training at Camp Ripley, the unit participated in a bridging exercise that built an improved ribbon bridge with overhead anchorage to connect the banks of the Mississippi River. The wet gap crossing area on the Mississippi was approximately 435 feet wide. The 1437th utilized 18 interior floating sections, each approximately 22 feet long, and two ramp sections to complete the bridge. The bridge company started by erecting six sections and creating a raft to move equipment required for bridge assembly and anchorage to the far shore. The raft was then reconfigured by adding 14 additional interior bays, one half on each side, then the two halves were put into place and jointed together by bridge erection boats. A long term anchorage solution was put in place using the unit’s overhead anchorage system and the bridge was opened for traffic. The float bridge is capable of carrying the Army’s heaviest wheeled & tracked loads during assault operations and sustained logistical movements. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Helen Miller, Michigan National Guard/Released)
2014 Pass in Review
 Michigan National Guard Chief of Staff Col. Gregory Durkac salutes during the Memorial Pass in Review held on Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Aug. 15, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Bratic, Michigan National Guard/Released)
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers train at Northern Strike
 1st Sgt. Scott D. Leist, Bravo Troop 1st Sgt. assigned to the 1st Squadron, 126th Cavalry Regiment, 63rd Troop Command leads soldiers participating in the spur ride, a time honored cavalry tradition, to the flight line to be dropped off into the forest at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center for land navigation testing August 14, 2014. The "maggots", those who haven't yet earned their silver spurs, were evaluated by multiple spur holders and passes through a series of physical and mental tests including a five-mile ruck march and history quiz on unit history. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Seth LaCount, 126th Press Camp, Michigan National Guard/Released)
Operation Northern Strike
 Sailors from VFA-103, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virg., 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)
Operation Northern Strike
 Michigan Army National Guard public affairs specialists Sgt. Nickolas Oposnow and Spc. Seth LaCount are transported in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter above the Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center, in Grayling, Mich., Aug. 13, 2014. The Soldiers are covering Operation Northern Strike, a joint combined arms live-fire exercise at Camp Grayling and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Northern Michigan with military participants from Latvia, Canada, Lithuania, and multiple U.S. active duty and National Guard troops. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Denice Rankin/Released).
Operation Northern Strike
 Soldiers assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 126th Cavalry Regiment, 63rd Troop Command, Michigan Army National Guard, move to board a CH-47 Chinook at the live-fire exercise on the air to ground range during Operation Northern Strike, held at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Mich., Aug. 14, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremy Miller/Released)
1073rd receives Army Award for Maintenance Excellence
 Michigan National Guard, Greenville-based 1073rd Support Maintenance Company Soldiers Capt. Daniel Daugherty, Sgt. Eric Trygstad, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joey North, and Pfc. Dustin Fisher pose with Brig. Gen. Jack Haley, Army chief of ordnance, after the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence ceremony in the Pentagon auditorium, Sept. 10, 2014. The 1073rd SMC was recognized as the winner of the AAME winner within the Medium Military Table of Organization and Equipment category and the "The Best of the Best" among all active duty, Guard and Reserve MTOE, Depot-level, and Table of Distribution and Allowance categories. The 1073rd award package will now compete against all branches of the U.S. armed forces for the Phoenix award for maintenance excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Denice Rankin/Released)
1460th Homecoming
 After an 11-month tour of service in Afghanistan, more than 150 Michigan National Guard Soldiers from the 1460th Transportation Company were welcomed home Sept. 23, 2014 at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Mich.
Gov. Rick Snyder and Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, joined family, friends, local business leaders, government officials, the northern Michigan Patriot Guard Riders and community members on the football field and bleachers with messages of pride and welcome.
Operation Silver Arrow
 Michigan Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jonathan French, 1431st Engineer Company (Sapper), Calumet, Mich., sets up an early warning system to teach a class to his Latvian counterparts from the Latvian Engineer Battalion (ZS 54 ITBN), in Orge, Latvia, Sept. 28, 2014. The Michigan and Latvian engineers are training together in support of Operation Silver Arrow in conjunction with U.S. Army Europe and Operation Northern Resolve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Helen Miller, Michigan National Guard/Released)
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LANSING, Mich. – Michigan National Guard members seeking higher education will soon have financial assistance to help fund it thanks to House bill 5451. The bill cleared the Michigan Senate Thursday afternoon with a unanimous 38 – 0 vote...
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July marked the first time active component units integrated with reserve component units for validation during an eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation.. View all the stories, videos and photos here.
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Operation Northern Strike
In August, Northern Strike 2014 brought 12 states and two international coalition partners to Camp Grayling and Alpena Combat Readiness...View all the stories, videos and photos here.
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September 10, Greenville-based, Michigan Army National Guard 1073rd Support Maintenance Company received the prestigious Army Award for Maintenance...
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After an 11-month tour of service in Afghanistan, more than 150 Michigan National Guard Soldiers from the 1460th Transportation Company were welcomed home Sept. 23, 2014 at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Mich. See photos here.
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Michigan Soldiers from the 177th Military Police Brigade are currently in Latvia to participating in a military exercise this month as part of a continuing effort to nurture the Michigan Army National Guard’s partnership with the Baltic nation’s armed forces. View stories, videos and photos here.
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