Camp Grayling

Camp Grayling is a military training facility located near Grayling, Michigan, primarily in Crawford County, and spread over three counties. Camp Grayling is the main training facility for the Michigan National Guard and is the largest US National Guard training facility in the United States.

Camp Grayling
Part of Michigan Army National Guard
Grayling, Michigan in the United States
Camp Grayling
Coordinates44°38′4″N 84°46′21″W
Area147,000 acres (59,000 ha)
Site information
Controlled byMichigan Army National Guard
Websiteminationalguard.dodlive.mil/camp-grayling/
Site history
Built1913 (1913)
Garrison information
Current
commander		COL Edward Hallenbeck

History

Camp Grayling was founded in 1913 on an initial grant of land from Grayling lumber baron Rasmus Hanson to the state for military training.[1] It includes 147,000 acres (590 km2) in Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. Troops first started training at Camp Grayling in 1914.[2]

Training events
Grayling Air Gunnery Range provides over 147,000 acres of joint use ground maneuver and impact range space

During the summer months, Camp Grayling hosts National Guard units from Michigan, the surrounding states, and Canada. Large artillery, mortar, and tank ranges as well as maneuver courses highlight the camp. Recently Forward Operating Bases have been constructed to allow company-sized units to simulate operations.

For two weeks each year starting in 2014, Camp Grayling hosts the National Guard's Exportable Combat Training Capability program.[3] Each year, Camp Grayling schedules training for over 20,000 military personnel from National Guard units from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, as well as regular Army and Reserve units.

Grayling Army Airfield is located at Camp Grayling and includes 70 helicopter tiedown pads as well as two 5,000 ft (1,500 m) runways capable of handling C-130 and C-17 aircraft.[4] Camp Grayling has over 600 soldiers in traditional Army National Guard units regularly assigned to it.[5]

The installation provides over 200 full-time jobs to local residents. Consequently, Camp Grayling is one of the largest employers in the county. The camp activities generate over $30 million annually in the local economy.

The camp has a partnership with the Northern Michigan Law Enforcement group for training purposes. The camp has small arms ranges and urban assault ranges. Camp Grayling has an IED (improvised explosive device) Lane. This is used to train troops to protect themselves from IED’s. They have a 10.2-mile (16.4 km) live fire convoy commander’s reaction course that trains commanders. The base is used for research and development.

A central attraction of Camp Grayling is Lake Margrethe.[6]

Color Guard appearances

Camp Grayling's five-man color guard has appeared on national television alongside Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Brian McKnight, Aaron Neville, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and other notable recording artists who performed the National Anthem at major sporting events held in Michigan over the years. It provided the colors presentation for four Major League Baseball All-Star Games, eight World Series, Super Bowls XVI and XL, the 1980 Republican National Convention and the 2004 and 2005 NBA Finals. At many aforementioned nationally televised sporting events held in Michigan, they have been joined by a Canadian military color guard, usually that of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from Ottawa, Ontario.

Tenant Units

Camp Grayling is located in Region 6 of the Michigan Army National Guard. Its tenant units are as follows:[7]

  • Joint Maneuver Training Center (ISU)
  • 745th Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • 1434th Engineer Company
  • 1440th Engineer Detachment
  • 1439th Engineer Detachment
  • 1442nd Engineer Detachment
  • 1071st Maintenance Company

Notes
  1. "Rasmus Hanson" at Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine Michigan Fish Hatchery.
  2. "Camp Grayling History at MIARNG NGB Website". Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  3. Camp Grayling to host 5,000 soldiers for combat training
  4. GAAF at MIARNG NBG Website Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
  5. http://minationalguard.dodlive.mil/camp-grayling/
  6. Grayling Area Visitors Bureau. Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Michigan State National Guard (2020). "Units and Leadership". Lansing, MI: Michigan State National Guard.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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