Barrett Joins Army Secretary, Michigan Officials for Northern Strike Military Training at Camp Grayling

Grayling, Mich. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today joined U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), and other officials at Camp Grayling for Exercise Northern Strike, the annual military training coordinated by the Michigan National Guard.

During the exercise, Driscoll announced a new Army initiative to expand testing range access for private industry partners at Camp Grayling and four other bases. The initiative is designed to expedite testing for new weapons, drone systems, and other technologies that have practical applications for combat, reconnaissance, and other military purposes.

"Exercise Northern Strike enables our military to take advantage of the best Michigan has to offer - from our lakes, terrain, and airspace to our advanced engineering and manufacturing base," Barrett said. "I experienced that firsthand during my years participating in Northern Strike in the Army, and I enjoyed seeing our troops in action alongside Secretary Driscoll and bipartisan leadership from across our state. I'm confident Michigan will continue to lead the way in training our armed forces in the tactics and skills they need to keep our nation secure."

Exercise Northern Strike takes place throughout the National All-Domain Warfighting Center, which encompasses the state of Michigan, including Camp Grayling and other sites. Driscoll's announcement comes after Barrett and his colleagues secured a decision by the Army and the National Guard Bureau to designate NADWC as a national drone testing site.

This year's Exercise Northern Strike brought together more than 9,000 participants from 36 states and territories and five international allies. From August 3 to 14, the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, reserves, National Guard, and foreign partners are conducting combat training operations in the land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains.

Barrett participated in a roundtable with Driscoll, Whitmer, and other officials about the secretary's announcement. He then took an aerial tour of the camp in a Chinook helicopter, met with defense industry stakeholders, witnessed a firefighting exercise, a doorway clearing detonation, and more.

Exercise Northern Strike supports America's national security while boosting Michigan's economy, bringing an average of $44 million to the state each year.