Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs WI_media Update

Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs sent this bulletin at 08/22/2016 09:34 AM CDT

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August 22, 2016

 

Contact:  Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Office: 608-242-3050 or Cell: 608-516-1777

 

 

NEWS: Northern Lightning exercise kicks off at Volk Field

Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

 

Camp Douglas, Wis. -- Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center is scheduled to host aircraft and personnel from multiple National Guard, active duty Air Force and Navy units as part of the annual Northern Lightning combat training exercise Aug. 22- Sept. 2.

 

The two-week long event will provide participating service members a tactical level, joint training environment customized to meet the full-spectrum training needs of each unit.

 

According to Col. Chad Milne, Wisconsin Air National Guard director of operations, Volk Field provides realistic and challenging training scenarios unparalleled in the Air National Guard.

 

"The emphasis this year will be placed on joint integration of 4th and 5th generation aircraft from the Air National Guard, Air Force and Navy,” Milne said. “Participating units will be tasked to execute multiple high-end training missions that are designed to prepare pilots for real-world conflict.”

 

During the exercise the training missions will incorporate offensive counter air, suppression and destruction of enemy air defense, and close air support scenarios involving actual employment of laser and GPS guided munitions from EA-18G Growler, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G and F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

 

Units scheduled to participate in the 2016 exercise include the 128th Air Refueling Wing from Milwaukee, 115th Fighter Wing and 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation from Madison, Wisconsin, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field, 148th Fighter Wing from Duluth, Minnesota, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, VFA-11, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, VAQ-132, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, 964th AACS, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 266th Range Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana and the 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska.

 

The general public can expect to see a significant increase in aircraft activity in and around the Camp Douglas area Aug. 22- Sept. 2.

 

 

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