Camp Grayling

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 US National Guard training facility in the USA.HistoryCamp 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 147000acre in Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. Troops first started training at Camp Grayling in 1914.Training eventsDuring 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 through 2018, Camp Graying will host the National Guard's Exportable Combat Training Capability program.Grayling Army Airfield is located at Camp Grayling and includes 70 helicopter tiedown pads as well as two 5000ft 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.