Battle Creek residents may see military activity during Northern Strike exercises

Battle Creek residents may notice military personnel, vehicles or related training activity in and around the city through Aug. 14 as part of Northern Strike 26-2.

The City of Battle Creek says the local portion of the exercise is limited to designated locations and will take place on four non-consecutive days during the broader Aug. 3-14 exercise period. The city says the planned activity does not pose a public-safety threat.

What residents may see

Military personnel, vehicles and related training activity may be visible in and around Battle Creek during the exercise period. The city has not publicly identified the exact local training locations or schedules in its notice.

Residents should distinguish the limited Battle Creek activity from the larger Northern Strike exercise taking place across Michigan. The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says the exercise includes more than 9,000 military personnel from 36 states and territories and five international participants.

No large-scale maneuvers throughout the city

The Battle Creek portion will not include large-scale military maneuvers or troop movements throughout the city, according to the city’s July 31 notice.

The city says the local activities are planned and coordinated with local, state and federal partners to minimize impacts on the community. The city’s notice describes the activity as limited training at designated locations rather than a citywide military operation.

Police and dispatch agencies are coordinating

The Battle Creek Police Department is coordinating with the Michigan National Guard, neighboring law-enforcement agencies and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority.

Dispatch officials will receive advance notice before planned activities occur at local training locations. That coordination is intended to give local agencies notice of planned activity during the exercise.

Residents can sign up for Calhoun County RAVE emergency alerts for public-safety notifications and other emergency information.

Broader Northern Strike activity

Northern Strike 26-2 is scheduled for Aug. 3-14, according to the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. A Department of Defense DVIDS exercise page describes the broader operational period as Aug. 1-15.

The state military department lists Battle Creek Air National Guard Base among the additional training locations. It also says motorists should expect increased military traffic on Michigan roads on Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 as personnel and equipment move to and from Camp Grayling, while residents across the Lower Peninsula may see increased military aircraft activity during scheduled training missions.

Those statewide observations provide broader context, but the City of Battle Creek notice controls what residents should expect locally: limited, location-specific activity on four non-consecutive days during the Aug. 3-14 exercise period.

Residents who notice military activity in or around Battle Creek through Aug. 14 should refer to official public-safety information and avoid unnecessary concern, confusion or rumors.

Sources

• City of Battle Creek: Northern Strike training activities scheduled Aug. 3-14
• Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs: Northern Strike Returns to Michigan
• DVIDS: Northern Strike 26-2