acrtc.com
The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center provides a premiere all-season training center for service members, emergency responders, and coalition forces to meet the mission requirements of combatant commanders and civil authorities. Established as an Air National Guard base since 1953, the Alpena CRTC is comprised of approximately 200 personnel and commanded by Col. Michael C. Whitefoot.
"Here’s our call to action. To be the epitome of combat readiness training, innovation, and experimentation," Whitefoot said. "We will face many challenges in the future. We must learn to specialize in training future Air Task Force and deployable combat Airmen. We must become experts in new principles such as agile combat deployment, contested logistics, and joint warfighting concept."
45-04-41.1000N 083-33-37.1000W
45-04.685000N 083-33.618333W
45.0780833,-83.5603056
Elevation: 689.5 ft. / 210.2 m
CTAF: 121.35
UNICOM: 122.95
ATIS: 120.675 327.05
WX ASOS: 120.675 (989-356-1576)
ALPENA GROUND: 121.9 275.8 [0800-1600 WKDAYS; EXCP HOLS (ANG).]
ALPENA TOWER: 121.35 318.1 [0800-1600 WKDAYS; EXCP HOLS (ANG).]
ALPENA APPROACH: 128.425 379.3 [0800-1600 WKDAYS (ANG).]
ALPENA DEPARTURE: 128.425 379.3 [0800-1600 WKDAYS (ANG).]
Joint All-Domain Testing and TrainingThe committee recognizes the critical need for the National Guard, as an essential component of the Joint Force, to conduct all-domain training and exercises in support of the National Defense Strategy (NDS). The committee notes the Joint Staff's development of the joint warfighting concept to support the NDS. The committee notes that in order to support the NDS, training capabilities can best be achieved within an all-domain training environment. Such a venue should be able to support training and exercises for aircraft; training in maritime and littoral environments; amphibious training; joint fire support; maneuver coordinated with fires and effects; multi-echelon sustainment; combined arms live-fire; decisive major combat operations scenarios; air mobility; cyber operations; space operations; electronic warfare spectrum availability; mission command; remotely piloted aircraft launch and recovery; and four seasons capabilities.
The committee notes that the National All Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), which includes the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, delivers a joint all-domain, four- season training environment that is able to support its users in their efforts to achieve or sustain proficiency in conducting joint command and control, air, maritime, and ground maneuver integration, and the synchronization of kinetic and non-kinetic fires in a joint, multinational major combat operations environment that is scalable across unit resources levels. These capabilities are critical to the preparedness of the U.S. Armed Forces for future warfighting demands. Accessibility is critical to the ability of units and partners to be able to train with their equipment in a wide range of environments that mimic potential conflict zones. NADWC has multi-modal capabilities to train and exercise joint logistics and sustainment at operationally relevant distances. This also provides a training environment that addresses training gaps and builds readiness at multiple echelons with the scope and scale required to address emerging challenges of near-peer competitors.
The committee encourages the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force to appropriately resource joint all- domain training, exercises, test, and experimentation for the Army and Air National Guards to maximize readiness in an all- domain training environment to the maximum extent practicable.
The Alpena CRTC is designed to support large-scale joint and coalition force exercises. It offers training resources for the Air National Guard, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and other allied forces.
Its location allows for realistic training scenarios in a less congested airspace than other military training centers, making it ideal for flight operations and exercises. It frequently hosts large-scale exercises such as Northern Strike, a military exercise focusing on joint and combined operations.
The center provides extensive facilities, including airfields, barracks, weapons ranges, and command-and-control infrastructure. It has runways for various military aircraft operations and training, making it a hub for both ground and aerial military activities.
The Alpena CRTC is crucial for maintaining combat readiness of air and ground forces, providing realistic environments to simulate combat situations. Its role in joint operations training makes it a key installation for U.S. military preparedness.
Alpena CRTC hosts numerous joint military exercises, involving not just the U.S. military branches but also international forces, providing a comprehensive readiness environment. It focuses on preparing military personnel for modern warfare scenarios, ensuring that units can operate seamlessly in joint-force environments.
The Alpena CRTC is known for having access to a wide expanse of airspace, perfect for complex air-to-ground and air-to-air combat training. - It is connected with the Grayling Air Gunnery Range, which allows for live-fire training exercises and large-scale simulations.
The airspace surrounding the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) is critical for its role in military training and exercises. This region offers large, relatively uncongested areas suitable for a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training operations. With access to MOAs, restricted airspace, and low-level flight routes, the center supports complex, large-scale joint force operations that include air-to-air and air-to-ground combat training. This flexibility and capability make Alpena CRTC a vital asset for military training in the region.
The Alpena CRTC utilizes Military Operations Areas (MOAs), which are designated airspaces where military aircraft can train without being restricted by regular civilian air traffic. These MOAs provide space for Air combat maneuvering, Low-level flying, Air-to-air engagements and Ground attack simulations.
These areas are typically shared with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), meaning that while military exercises are taking place, civilian air traffic is rerouted to ensure safety.
Alpena CRTC is connected to restricted airspace areas, which are essential for live-fire exercises, weapons training, and more intense combat simulations. Restricted airspace ensures that non-participating aircraft are prohibited from entering during training exercises.
One such restricted area connected to Alpena CRTC is R-4207 (Grayling Range), which is used in conjunction with the Grayling Air Gunnery Range for live weapons training, including bombing runs and missile launches.
The Alpena CRTC utilizes Military Training Routes (MTRs) for low-altitude, high-speed training. These routes are established for military aircraft to practice Low-level navigation, Terrain-following maneuvers and Avoiding detection by enemy radar. These routes are typically used for tactical training, including simulations where aircraft must fly below radar coverage or simulate attacks on ground targets.
To ensure safety and deconfliction between military and civilian aircraft, Alpena CRTC works closely with the FAA. During training exercises Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are often established, temporarily restricting civilian air traffic in specific areas of the MOAs or restricted airspace. Coordination between military controllers and regional ATC ensures that civilian air traffic can be safely rerouted when military exercises are in progress.
The airspace around Alpena CRTC is frequently used for large-scale joint military exercises like Northern Strike. These exercises involve hundreds of sorties and may include Integration with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Joint exercises with ground forces, Close air support (CAS) operations and Air defense and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) scenarios.
The airspace around Alpena CRTC is advantageous because it is less congested than airspace around major commercial airports and provides enough space to safely simulate complex air combat and ground attack scenarios without interference from civilian flights. It also allows for real-time training in various combat tactics, including dogfighting, bombing, and strafing runs.
The nearby Grayling Air Gunnery Range plays a critical role in ground attack simulations. Aircraft from Alpena CRTC use this area for Bombing runs (both practice and live ordnance), Close air support (CAS) simulations and Real-time targeting with ground forces.
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