Northern Strike is an annual joint ground and air force exercise organized by the Michigan National Guard, with which Latvia has longstanding links.
"The purpose of the training is to maintain and improve the combat readiness of the units, including conducting combat firing and integrating combined fire support in the execution of the tasks of the ground forces units, as well as to continue cooperation with the allied forces," said the NBS.
Air support controllers from the Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Ground Forces, airfield operations management specialists and airfield firefighters from the Air Force, as well as soldiers from the Special Operations Command and National Guard soldiers and guardsmen will take part in the training.
Along with Latvian soldiers and national guardsmen, more than 7,000 soldiers from the United States and allied countries will participate in the Northern Strike exercise.
Thirty years have passed since Latvia and the United States of America signed an agreement on cooperation in the Country Partnership Program, thereby confirming the partnership of the Latvian and Michigan National Guards. The first goals of the program were to help Latvia develop the National Armed Forces, especially the National Guard, after regaining its independence. In the initial phase of cooperation, the Michigan National Guard contributed by creating the structure of the National Guard, developing training programs, inviting National Guardsmen to gain experience in military exercises in the USA and participating in military exercises in Latvia together with Latvian National Guardsmen.
