Northern Strike

Indiana Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Josh Castaneda instructs Marines on landing zone preparation and procedures during a flight safety briefing for a joint communications exercise with the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade, Indiana National Guard, at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indiana, on March 14, 2025. The joint communications exercise tested the Marines’ ability to rapidly deploy and establish secure communications in an operational environment. Upon insertion via UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, radio teams established encrypted high-frequency networks with the combat operations center, coordinated simulated medical evacuations, and executed air extractions, demonstrating their capability to maneuver and communicate in dynamic conditions alongside joint force partners. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Maj. Lara Soto)