Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Wisconsin Guard trains in cold at Michigan’s Winter Strike By Capt. Joe Legros,
                Michigan National Guard
 GRAYLING, Michigan – The maintenance bay, blanketed by overnight snowfall, buzzed with the sounds of motors idling and voices as Soldiers outside crunched through six inches of fresh snow. The temperature was 16 degrees Fahrenheit, and thick flakes made visibility difficult. Inside the bay, coffee was brewing and heaters made life more bearable. Foxtrot Company, 132nd Forward Support Company (F Co, 132nd FSC), Wisconsin National Guard, currently attached to the 120th Field Artillery Regiment, based in Mosinee, Wisconsin, conducted maintenance operations in anticipation of live-fire exercises. The training at Northern Strike 22-1, dubbed Winter Strike, is sponsored by the National Guard Bureau. The exercise unites service members from several states and partner forces Jan. 21-30 at Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., which comprise the National All-Domain Warfighting Center. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Josh Pusel, the maintenance control noncommissioned officer in charge for F Co, 132nd FSC, said vehicle and equipment maintenance is crucial for a successful exercise. “During this training, we’ll service and maintain Humvees, light-medium tactical vehicles, heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks, as well as some trailers and dump trucks,” Pusel said. The unit also uses generators and a few weapon systems supplied by the Michigan National Guard. By Jan. 24, they had requested and received 14 Humvees and numerous parts and expected to make additional requests to sustain operations. This equipment, including the dump trucks and other engineering equipment, will be used for follow-on units to clear routes and dig fortified positions during the exercise. “We have been working with Michigan’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site (MATES),” said 1st Sgt. McKenna Palkowski, F Co, 132nd FSC. “We have been able to establish a good relationship and have been able to get parts in order to get our equipment back up and running.” Even when equipment is functioning, the cold can significantly affect operations. Units train under these extreme conditions to establish best practices. “As the weather gets colder, we need to run our equipment overnight and let it idle,“ said Capt. Matthew Cornette, company commander of F Co, 132nd FSC. “We’ve rarely experienced this kind of challenge before.” “While we’re here, First Army will be evaluating me and my team,” Cornette said. “They will identify any deficiencies and assist us with making improvements.” The observer-controller-trainers will grade the FSC on maintenance standards, communication and other areas during Winter Strike. Cornette said about half the unit would transition into recovery operations after initial preventive maintenance checks and services. Others would support defense at one of the field artillery firing points on the base. “We came out here to hit all the items for our unit’s mission-essential task lists,” Cornette said. “We could definitely do this training during a warmer part of the year. But Winter Strike will provide us a great challenge under less-than-optimal weather conditions. It adds another factor of difficulty for us.” Winter Strike participants enhance their cold-weather warfare capabilities to support the Defense Department’s arctic strategy. Even before the Wisconsin Guard arrived at Camp Grayling, the working relationship with Michigan was on full display. “Our unit’s convoy entered Michigan through Gladstone, and they were nice enough to let us stay the night at their armory,” Cornette said. “Granted, there were a bunch of us, and we slept on cots on the drill floor. But the hospitality was nice, and the food served there was probably one of the best catered meals we’ve had. They were fantastic to work with.” In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Gladstone marks the halfway point between Mosinee and Camp Grayling, lessening the burden of a seven-hour convoy and ensuring the safety of drivers. “It’s my first time out here at Camp Grayling,“ Cornette said. “It’s been great so far. We work closely with MATES and enjoy the relationship with the Michigan National Guard.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Winter Strike
 Wisconsin National Guard
 Michigan National Guard
 
 Latvia-Michigan SPP partnership on display at Winter Strike
 By Capt. Andrew Layton,
  Massachusetts Guard, first responders train in ‘ice bath’
 By Capt. Andrew Layton,
  Wisconsin Soldiers love the ‘Big Boom’ at Winter Strike 21
 By Master Sgt. Daniel Heaton
  More
 NC Guard Unit Tests NextGen Squad Weapons Guard News • 1 hour ago
 Georgia 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Conducts Annual Training Guard News • 3 hours ago
 Former Colorado TAG Retires as Air National Guard Director Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Idaho National Guard Opens Child Care Center Guard News • yesterday
 After 80th D-Day Commemoration, Hokanson Looks to Future Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (183)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil