Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL’s) troops have arrived in the United States of America, to participate in this year’s version of the annual military training simulation, known as Northern Strike, in the state of Michigan, the USA.
The Assistant Defense Minister for Public Affairs, Sam Collins said, AFL’s first female Deputy Chief of Staff Geraldine George heads the Liberian military delegation currently in the U.S.
Sam quoting officials disclosed that military personnel from all parts of the U.S. and three foreign countries including Liberia are poised to converge on Northern Michigan this summer for the annually held military training simulation.
The Liberian military enjoys a harmonious relationship with the Michigan National Guard that has provided several training opportunities for personnel of the AFL and staff of the Liberian Ministry of National Defense, according to Sam.
From July 31-Aug. 14, the Michigan National Guard will host about 5,100 participants from three U.S. Army components, U.S. Air Force active duty and guard; U.S. Marine; and U.S. Navy components, plus units from the United Kingdom, Latvia and Liberia at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center.
Armed Forces of Liberia Chief of Staff Maj/Gen. Prince Charles Johnson, III is quoted as expressing delight over the new role of the AFL; from observers to participants, while also stressing that members of the Liberian military delegation scheduled to participate in the Northern Strike exercise will immediately be deployed in the West African State of Mali as part of UN’s peacekeeping mission.
Meanwhile, Women Voices newspaper has reliably gathered that Northern Strike is one of USA’s largest military training exercises, and is also the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises.
Northern Strike exercises imitate wartime scenario-based readiness training, and give participants the opportunity to complete mission tasks.
Women Voices newspaper has confirmed that this year’s event will take place at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) in Northern Michigan starting July 31 to August 14.
The NADWC includes the Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The training area has 148,000 acres of maneuver space and more than 17,000 square miles of special-use airspace.
The military training exercises will focus on joint combined arms live-fire training, close air support, joint fire support, coordinated maneuver with fires and air mobility. Army components, Marine and Navy components and the Air Force will be featured.
“This exercise serves as a great opportunity for our multicomponent, multinational, and interagency partners to develop into efficient, joint warfighters. Training like we may be called on to fight is critical in preparing to confront a near-peer adversary in the future,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said.
The Michigan National Guard started Northern Strike in 2012, gaining more participants every year. It is estimated that 5,100 participants from across the country will attend this year’s exercises.
Social distancing and masking for non vaccinated participants will be encouraged. There will also be COVID-19 testing.
