Michigan military exercise preparing thousands of troops for changing battlefield

GRAYLING, Mich. – Tanks fire across training grounds in northern Michigan as thousands of service members practice for a battlefield military leaders say is changing rapidly.

More than 9,000 participants from 36 states and territories and five international participants are taking part in Northern Strike 26-2, one of the nation’s largest reserve-component military readiness exercises.

Northern Strike began in 2012 and is held twice a year. David Kennedy, a public affairs officer with the Michigan National Guard, said this summer’s exercise is the largest since it began.

Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh of the Michigan National Guard said lessons emerging from conflicts...