Michigan will be home to a new National Guard battalion trained in intelligence collection and analysis and targeting support, officials said Friday.
While the site hasn’t been determined, the Michigan National Guard announced that the U.S. Army had selected Michigan for one of four new Intelligence and Electronic Warfare & Sensors (IEWS) battalions that will begin operations in 2026.
Some 200 new troops will be attached to the battalion. IWES battalions are intended to specialize in intelligence analysis and electronic warfare, which involves using the electromagnetic spectrum and sensors to detect and disrupt threats.
The battalion will also work with the Michigan National Guard’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) in Grayling, which focuses on training personnel to fight in different environments and spheres, including cyberwarfare.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praised the Army’s decision. “It is exciting to see this high-tech battalion coming to Michigan which will support our efforts to attract and retain the type of talent necessary for its success,” she said.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the decision “a testament to Michigan’s vital defense footprint and advances our growing ability to be on the forefront of cutting-edge military capabilities.”
“We are incredibly excited that the Michigan National Guard was selected to receive one of four (IEWS) battalions,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. “This decision clearly demonstrates Michigan’s capabilities and our ongoing commitment to being on the forefront for new investments as we continue to support our national defense and adapt to the ever changing conditions that will be present in future war fights.”
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