Military Conducting Aircraft Training Exercises Over Central Wisconsin

Update: Wood County Dispatch has advised that fighter jets will be in the area today (August 15). Residents may hear sonic booms.

Marshfield, WI (OnFocus) Residents in central Wisconsin can expect increased air activity the next few weeks while the military conducts training exercises at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center near Camp Douglas.

The center is hosting nearly 1,000 personnel from 20 active duty Air Force, National Guard, Navy and Marine Corps units for the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise August 12-23. Wood and Marathon are listed as counties that can expect increased flight operations during this time.

Northern Lightning, a tactical joint training exercise which trains for a contested environment with electronic jamming, surface-to-air threats, and adversary aircraft, is one of seven Air National Guard joint accredited exercises held at the Combat Readiness Training Center.

Advanced aircraft is being used for the exercise including the F-35, F-22, F-16, EA-18, and C-130.

The following units across the country and all branches of the military will take part: the 115th Fighter Wing from Madison, the 123rd Air Control Squadron from Blue Ash, Ohio, the 58th Fighter Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base, 182nd Airlift Wing from Peoria, Illinois, the 179th Fighter Squadron from Duluth, Minnesota, the 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley, Virginia, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 and Marine Air Control Squadron 1 from Yuma, Arizona, 147 Air Support Operations Squadron from Ellington Field, Texas, 269th Combat Communications Squadron from Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio, and more.