Shown is an M119A2 howitzer firing position occupied

Shown is an M119A2 howitzer firing position occupied by Ohio Army National Guard artillery soldiers of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery at Camp Grayling, Mich., on Aug. 12, 2014. The artillery soldiers are participating in "Northern Strike 2014." Northern Strike is a National Guard Bureau sponsored Joint Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) emphasizing the Theater Air Control and Army Air Ground Systems (TACS/AAGS) within the Theater Air Ground System (TAGS). It blends maneuver, close air support (CAS), joint fire support, and air mobility in both major combat operations and limited Operation Enduring Freedom scenarios. The focus of the three-week event is to provide tailored, cost effective, and realistic combat training for our National Guard in a joint and multinational environment. Twenty-four units from 12 states and three coalition partners will participate in the three-week event. Operation Northern Strike will occur from Aug. 4-22, 2014, at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. Over 300 Total Force fighter, bomber, mobility, and rotary sorties are planned in support of Joint CALFEX maneuver situation training exercise lanes in order to meet stated objectives for participating units. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jim Downen/RELEASED)