An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 22, 2020

164th Security Forces Squadron trains at Northern Strike 20

By Senior Airman Tristan Viglianco Michigan National Guard

ROGERS CITY, Mich. – Northern Strike’s purpose is to help prepare warfighters from across all service branches by perfecting joint fire proficiency in a premier all-domain training environment. To hone their skills, the participants need a skilled and realistic “enemy” to fight, which is where the 164th Security Forces Squadron comes in.

A team of Tennessee Air National Guardsmen traveled from the 164th Airlift Wing in Memphis to Rogers City, Michigan, to serve as part of the opposition forces.

“The team consists of eight personnel. For two weeks of this exercise, we will be covering opposition force procedures,” said Tech. Sgt. Jermikeo Malone, 164th SFS team leader. “We are the ‘bad guys’ for the other participants and we are trying to make it look as real as possible.”

There are a variety of units the team is working on challenging, including Army infantry, Air Force tactical air control party, and joint terminal air controllers from both branches.

“We are trying to simulate in-theater operations,” said Malone. “We are planting simulated, improvised explosive devices and booby-trapping things. Our goal is to make it as hard as possible for the combat forces to penetrate and eliminate the threat.”

In addition to helping others prepare to win the real-world warfighter, the team believes acting as the opposition will help them when they face enemies in the future.

“We get to think how the other side would operate,” said Master Sgt. John Hogue, 164th SFS unit training manager. “We are using the same tactics as the enemy, so when we go back to being a blue force, we know how to combat them.”

Northern Strike also serves as a chance for the team to gain valuable experience and complete tasks necessary to their training strategy, which improves overall readiness.

The training held July 19-31 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Northern Michigan, includes Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center.

The Michigan National Guard has worked with public health officials to develop a comprehensive plan that allows units to accomplish critical military readiness requirements at Northern Strike 20, safeguarding participants and local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Doing what we do here, is similar to things found in predeployment training,” said Hogue. “This gives us the ability to work on our combat skills and take this training back to our unit and the trainers will implement it.”

This is the first time the 164th SFS has participated in Northern Strike and they are hoping it will become a regular event for them.

“We would like to send other groups up here to do this,” said Hogue. “This is pretty cool and the tools we have been given to function allow us to be flexible, creative, and think outside the box.”

 

 

Related Articles
Spc. Robert Bowley, an electromagnetic warfare specialist with the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, radios from his position while monitoring the electromagnetic spectrum with the Beast+ system during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Michigan, on Aug. 12, 2025.
Northern Strike Brings Electromagnetic Warfare to the Front Lines
By 2nd Lt. Paige Bodine, | Aug. 13, 2025
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—In modern warfare, battles are not only fought with rifles, tanks and artillery. Some of the most decisive victories are won across the electromagnetic spectrum.At Northern Strike, the National Guard’s...

(From left) U.S. Army Col. Brian Martinus, Michigan National Guard State Chaplain; AFL Maj. Urias Zogaa, Chaplain General, Armed Forces of Liberia; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard; AFL Maj. Gen. Davidson Forleh, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Russell, III, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Michigan National Guard; U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard; CW5 Allen Robinson, State Command Warrant Officer, Michigan National Guard; AFL Lt. Col. Francis Gbodi, Military Advisor; Armed Forces of Liberia; U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Hopkins, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Michigan Army National Guard, stand for a photo in front of a white pine – Michigan’s state tree – dedicated near the Camp Grayling chapel to symbolize the strength of the Michigan-Liberia partnership
Michigan Guard, Liberia Mark 15 Years of Partnership
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | June 27, 2025
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—The Michigan National Guard and the Armed Forces of Liberia celebrated the 15th anniversary of their partnership in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program with a...

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane Mills, readiness non-commissioned officer for the 246th Transportation Battalion, Michigan National Guard, discusses U.S. Army fleet management documentation processes with vehicle drivers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), April 17, 2025, at the RSLAF Joint Logistics Unit in the Murray Town district of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Michigan-Sierra Leone Partnership Moves Ahead with Multidisciplinary Engagements
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | May 2, 2025
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) took another step forward April 11-18 with three separate engagements conducted at various...