Staff Sgt. Tristan D. Viglianco/U.S. National Guard photo

Soldiers from the Kingsford Armory’s 1432nd Engineer Company, Michigan National Guard use heavy equipment to move dirt during training Jan. 27 at Camp Grayling in northern Lower Michigan. The Northern Strike 23-1 exercise included 600 personnel from across the active and reserve components of the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Northern Strike 23-1 offered units a chance to train in a joint, all-domain, cold-weather environment. The 1432nd Engineer Company is part the 107th Engineer Battalion based in Ishpeming. About 150 soldiers from the 107th are now deployed in Southwest Asia for “Operation Spartan Shield,” supporting general construction operations throughout multiple countries. They are fortifying bunkers and entry control points, repairing roads, improving area drainage and developing logistics support areas. They were deployed Jan. 7 and should return near the end of the year. Today is Armed Forces Day — a day to pay tribute to men and women who serve the United States’ armed forces.