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Northern Agility 22-1 kicks off in Alger County, M-28 landing delayed to Wednesday

A C-146A Wolfhound from Hurlburt Field, Florida takes off on a public highway in Alpena, Michigan, August, 2021. The highway landing is part of Exercise Northern Strike 21-2, an annual multinational, large scale military training event that tests the rapid insertion of an Air Expeditionary Wing into a bare-base environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Scott Thompson)
Master Sgt. Scott Thompson/127th Wing Public Affairs
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Digital
A C-146A Wolfhound from Hurlburt Field, Florida takes off on a public highway in Alpena, Michigan, August, 2021.

ALGER COUNTY, MI-- Monday through Wednesday this week, the Michigan Air National Guard (ANG) will partner with Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the Michigan Department of Transportation, and local agencies to host exercise “Northern Agility 22-1,” which prepares military aircrews for operations in austere environments under the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine.

Northern Agility 22-1 will showcase A-10 Thunderbolt II, AFSOC MC-12W, C-145A, C-146A and U-28A aircraft conducting agile combat employment at Sawyer International Airport, Hanley Airfield, and on a closed portion of M-28 east of Munising.

Due to projected weather conditions, the temporary landing zone in Alger County will now occur June 29 as opposed to June 28. Staging and additional training activities will precede and follow the highway landing as originally planned at Sawyer International Airport. For safety, members of the general public are strongly advised to avoid the exercise areas.

“The exercise areas, including Hawk LZ, are closed to the public for the safety of our citizens and exercise participants,” said Lt. Col. Brian Wyrzykowski, lead operations planner for Northern Agility 22-1. “These Airmen are some of the best in the world when it comes to executing air power in challenging conditions, which requires their 100% focus. That being said, low-flying aircraft will be visible from the city of Munising and we look forward to sharing this event with the public through photos and recorded media immediately following the exercise.”

To facilitate the Northern Agility 22-1, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close M-28 east of Munising from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 29. During the closure, eastbound traffic will be detoured on H-58 to H-15 and back to M-28. The route will be reversed for westbound traffic. There will be no civilian access to the M-28 landing zone during this period. Viewing low-flying aircraft will be possible from the city of Munising. This closure will be posted on MDOT’s travel information website and detour route signs will help guide travelers through the area. Portable message boards will be posted leading up to the date of the closure as well. Hanley Field, the Alger County airport, will be closed to all civilian air traffic June 27-29. This message will be on the Alger County website and posted as a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) as well. To ensure public safety, there will be no civilian foot traffic allowed on the airport property during this period.

“Northern Agility 22-1 would not be possible without the long-term partnerships that exist between the Michigan National Guard and the Michigan State Police, Michigan Dept. of Transportation, Alger County Sheriff’s Office, and of course, support from our neighbors in the Upper Peninsula. We are beyond grateful for their cooperation and flexibility to make this event happen.” said Lt. Col. Brian Wyrzykowski, lead operations planner for Northern Agility 22-1. “We see exercises like this as an investment in the U.P. that are critical to the state’s future economic success. Beyond that, this is an extraordinary training opportunity for our airmen delivered by the unwavering support of patriotic Michiganders. On behalf of a grateful Michigan Air National Guard, we can’t say thank you enough.”

For more information, please contact the Michigan National Guard Public Affairs office at 517-940-0081 or ng.mi.miarng.list.pao@mail.mil. For additional Northern Agility 22-1 content please visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/NorthernAgility221.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.