Two F-35A Lightning II jets taxi down the taxiway at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Camp Douglas, Wis., during the Northern Lightning exercise Aug. 23, 2016. The exercise was a tactical-level, joint training exercise that emphasized fourth and fifth generation assets engaged in a contested, degraded environment.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Russell)(released)

Air Guard to train over Portage Co. beginning Monday

August 13, 2018

For the Metro Wire

Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center will host aircraft and personnel from multiple active duty Air Force, National Guard, Marine and Navy units as part of the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise Aug. 13-24.

Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at a Combat Readiness Training Center. According to Col. Chad Milne, Wisconsin Air National Guard director of operations, the two-week long exercise will increase military readiness by providing participating units a tactical level, joint training environment emphasizing user-defined objectives.

The general public can expect to see an increase in aircraft activity in and around the Camp Douglas area Aug. 13-24, with increased flight activity overhead from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in Adams, Brown, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jackson, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Waupaca, Winnebago, and Wood counties.

“The goal of the exercise is to provide tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for participating units in a joint and multinational environment,” Milne said. “The specific exercise scenario focuses on opposed air interdiction against a highly integrated air defense network composed of relevant surface-to-air and air-to-air threats.”

More than 1,000 participants and 60 aircraft from Air Force, National Guard, Navy, and Marine units in Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin are participating in the exercise.

Volk Field is one of four combat readiness training centers in the country.