Camp Grayling
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Camp Grayling, near Grayling located in Crawford County, Michigan, and spreading over three counties in the USA. It is the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River. 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 147,000 acres 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. [1] During the summer months Camp Grayling hosts National Guard units from Michigan and surrounding states. 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.
Grayling Army Airfield is located at Camp Grayling and includes 70 helicopter tiedown pads as well as two 5000 ft runways capable of handling C-130 and C-17 aircraft.[2]
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. Camp activities generate over $20 million annually in local economic impact. 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 beautiful Lake Margrethe.[3]
