Northern Strike 18

This page archives news and photos from Exercise Northern Strike in 2018. It highlights deployments and training, showcasing MARFORRES operational readiness and global engagement in joint, multicomponent scenarios.

About

Exercise Northern Strike is a military readiness event hosted annually at Michigan National Guard facilities. With approximately 5,000 participating Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors, Northern Strike is one of the largest reserve component exercises supported by the U.S. military. The mission is to exercise participating units’ full-spectrum of capabilities through realistic, cost-effective joint fires training in an adaptable environment, with an emphasis on joint and coalition force cooperation.

VIDEOS

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Photo Gallery

U.S. Marines with VMFA-224 conduct flight operations during Ramstein Flag in Finland

A Finnish air force F/A-18 Hornet flies near Rovaniemi Air Base during exercise Ramstein Flag 2026 at Rovaniemi Air Base, Finland, June 5, 2026. RAFL26 is NATO’s premier multi-domain tactical exercise involving 19 nations and over 15 operational locations. The exercise provides realistic combat scenarios in complex environments and is designed to enhance the Alliance’s deterrence and collective defense. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Perri Wood)

Download Image: Full Size (2.03 MB)

Tags: VMFA-224, nato, F-35B Lightning II, USNorthCom, Ramstein Flag 26, RAFL 26

Photo by: Lance Cpl. Perri Wood | VIRIN: 260609-M-GQ491-1152.JPG

Photo Gallery

ARTICLES

Marines of 3/25 tackle Exercise Northern Strike 18
The hot Michigan sun is high in the sky as a Marine lays flat against the dry sand looking through his rifle optic at the battle space spread out in-front of him. Beside him, his fellow Marine fills...