Camp Grayling
Encyclopedia
Camp Grayling, near Grayling
, is located primarily in Crawford County
, Michigan
, and spreads over three counties. Camp Grayling is the main training facility for the Michigan National Guard and is the largest National Guard
training facility in the nation.
Camp Grayling was founded in 1913 on an initial grant of land from Grayling
lumber baron Rasmus Hanson to the State of Michigan for military training. It includes 147000 acres (594.9 km²) in Crawford
, Kalkaska
and Otsego
counties. Much of the land is accessible to the public for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other recreational uses (when military training isn't happening).
Troops first started training at Camp Grayling in 1914. 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 Base
s have been constructed to allow company-sized units to simulate operations.
Grayling Army Airfield
is located at Camp Grayling and includes 70 helicopter tiedown pads as well as two 5000 ft (1,524 m) runways capable of handling C-130 and C-17
aircraft.
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. The installation provides over 200 full time jobs to local residents. Consequently, Camp Grayling is one of the largest employers in the County. The federal dollars that pay employee salaries are often used to pay local taxes and to support schools, hospitals, churches and local businesses, a partnership that has proven itself over generations.
Camp Grayling has over 600 soldiers in traditional Army National Guard units regularly assigned to it.
A central attraction of Camp Grayling is Lake Margrethe.
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. They also have 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 live fire convoy commander’s reaction course that trains commanders. The base gets used for research and development. Training at Camp Grayling occurs year round. In the 2010 fiscal year the base was used for 320 days. The camp hosts the Marines and the Navy
.
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
, is located primarily in Crawford County
Crawford County, Michigan
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,273 people, 5,625 households, and 4,038 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 10,042 housing units at an average density of 18 per...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and spreads over three counties. Camp Grayling is the main training facility for the Michigan National Guard and is the largest National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
training facility in the nation.
Camp Grayling was founded in 1913 on an initial grant of land from Grayling
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
lumber baron Rasmus Hanson to the State of Michigan for military training. It includes 147000 acres (594.9 km²) in Crawford
Crawford County, Michigan
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,273 people, 5,625 households, and 4,038 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 10,042 housing units at an average density of 18 per...
, Kalkaska
Kalkaska County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,571 people, 6,428 households, and 4,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 10,822 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
and Otsego
Otsego County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,301 people, 8,995 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
counties. Much of the land is accessible to the public for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other recreational uses (when military training isn't happening).
Troops first started training at Camp Grayling in 1914. 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 Base
Forward Operating Base
A forward operating base is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support tactical operations. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported...
s have been constructed to allow company-sized units to simulate operations.
Grayling Army Airfield
Grayling Army Airfield
Grayling Army Airfield is a public/military use airport located one nautical mile northwest of the central business district of Grayling, in Crawford County, Michigan, United States. It is owned by United States Army...
is located at Camp Grayling and includes 70 helicopter tiedown pads as well as two 5000 ft (1,524 m) runways capable of handling C-130 and C-17
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
aircraft.
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. The installation provides over 200 full time jobs to local residents. Consequently, Camp Grayling is one of the largest employers in the County. The federal dollars that pay employee salaries are often used to pay local taxes and to support schools, hospitals, churches and local businesses, a partnership that has proven itself over generations.
Camp Grayling has over 600 soldiers in traditional Army National Guard units regularly assigned to it.
A central attraction of Camp Grayling is Lake Margrethe.
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. They also have urban assault ranges. Camp Grayling has an IED (improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
) Lane. This is used to train troops to protect themselves from IED’s. They have a 10.2 mile live fire convoy commander’s reaction course that trains commanders. The base gets used for research and development. Training at Camp Grayling occurs year round. In the 2010 fiscal year the base was used for 320 days. The camp hosts the Marines and the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.