Photo By Airman 1st Class Josh Kaeser | A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Wisconsin Air National...... read more read more
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VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wisconsin - 2024 Northern Lightning, a two-week joint-training exercise held annually at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, concluded on Aug. 18, 2024. The exercise involved more than 1,000 servicemembers from nearly 25 units from all across the country. This year’s iteration included the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines along with their respective reserve and national guard components, preparing its participants for near-peer threats as well as the integration of fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft.
“Combat Readiness Training Center Volk Field is one of four CRTC centers in the United States,” said Air Force Maj. Tyler Shaver, Volk Field director of operations.
Volk Field is owned and operated by the Air National Guard which allows for a more flexible learning environment, said Shaver. Units are able to bring their own objectives to Volk Field as they determine is best for their units.
The aircraft hosted this year for Northern were the Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio; Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, Wisconsin; and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
The exercise also hosted numerous other units that operated in support of these aircraft from all over the country.
“Northern Lightning is a great training environment, especially for our younger pilots to come out and experience a joint environment,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Randy Kreps, 112th Fighter Squadron Commander. “There are multiple air frames flying with us like the F-35s here. There are Marines, the guard, the reserve, and it is a great training opportunity for us.”
The opportunity to train for fourth and fifth generation fighter integration is critical to ensure the Air Force is able to meet near-peer war fighting needs now and in the future, said Kreps.
“As a pilot it is always good to challenge yourself a little bit, so an environment like this has more aircraft than we would normally see in Toledo,” said Kreps. “There are a lot of opportunities to get better and learn from other units here as well.”
Northern Lightning also provided the opportunity for joint training, with multiple branches and components that took part in this year’s exercise.
“The challenges that Northern Lightning brought are amazing,” said U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael P. Fisher, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 commanding officer. “There was surface-to-air; air-to-air; and other adversarial assets that create that challenging environment that we know we are going to have to face one day.”
Volk Field offers 40,000 cubic miles of airspace, which allows for other components such as joint aerial refueling efforts to take place as part of the exercise, said Fisher.
Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers from the 128th Air Refueling Wing based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin took part in the exercise. In previous years of the exercise, over 870,000 gallons of jet fuel have been provided both in the air and on the ground.
“It is as close as we can get to combat with an advancing or pacing threat,” said Fisher. “Everyone brings something specific and unique to the fight. Now we are here collaborating and creating the best, most advanced package that we can.”
Northern Lightning began in the early 2000s before expanding into a large-scale exercise in 2015. It became a biannual exercise in 2018 and 2019 and returned to an annual exercise in 2020. Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at a Combat Readiness Training Center.
After completing their objective in Northern Lightning, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 left the Volk Field CRTC go to the Alpena CRTC which also replicates real world training to deployed locations.
“Northern Lightning is one of the most advanced training environments that I have worked in,” said Fisher.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.20.2024 09:13 |
| Story ID: | 478960 |
| Location: | VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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