CONTACT: Capt. Eric Dunford| ngwi.pao@mail.mil | 608-427-1774
by Capt. Joe Trovato
CAMP DOUGLAS, Wis. — Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center will host aircraft and personnel from multiple active duty Air Force, National Guard and Navy units as part of the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise May 14-25.
Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at a Combat Readiness Training Center. According to Col David May, the commander of Volk Field CRTC, Northern Lightning represents a one-of-a-kind training opportunity.
“We are very excited to kick off our first of two Northern Lightning exercises for this year,” May said. “Our Airmen have worked exceptionally hard for months to make this two week exercise a success for all of the participants from the National Guard and the Active Duty. Our airspace, training facilities, and ranges make Volk Field an ideal location for counterland training. Pilots will practice completing specific missions in a contested environment to include adversary aircraft, electronic jamming, and simulated ground based threats.”
The first rendition of the Northern Lightning exercise will consist of several assets including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, T-38 Talon, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the E-2C Hawkeye.
Units scheduled to participate in the 2018 exercise include the 128th Air Refueling Wing from Milwaukee; 115th Fighter Wing from Madison, Wisconsin; 128th Air Control Squadron from Volk Field; 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and 88th Fighter Training Squadron from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
The general public can expect to see an increase in aircraft activity in and around the Camp Douglas area May 14-25. Those living in the following counties can anticipate increased noise levels from 10 a.m.-noon from May 14-25 as well: 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.
