Gallery: Alabama National Guard’s 1st of the 117th Field Artillery trains in Mississippi
The 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA) has been conducting live fire, sling load and other operations while braving the elements at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for annual training. The M777 howitzer can be transported by helicopter sling load in addition to being towed into positions by truck. These “redlegs,” as artillerymen are known, have been conducting around-the-clock, all-weather fire missions. The 1-117 FA is an Alabama National Guard unit aligned with the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade. The battalion has units in Andalusia, Troy, Phenix City, Opelika and Daleville. The sling load operations were conducted with CH-47 Chinooks from the 169th Aviation Regiment, which includes units in the Alabama Air National Guard. Enjoy these photos of these warriors at work.
Command Sgt. Maj. Meacham Bailey, command senior enlisted leader for the Alabama National Guard, visits with 1st Battalion 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117th FA) Bravo Battery training in the field at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Bravo Battery soldier prepares to fire an M777-A2 howitzer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117th FA), Bravo Battery soldier, wearing a poncho, braces a support beam against the high wind and heavy rain at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
Two 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Bravo Battery soldiers ram a round into an M777-A2 howitzer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
The 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldiers stand atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a water buffalo to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
The 1st Battalion 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Bravo Battery prepares to fire a second round from an M777-A2 howitzer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A Chinook crewed by 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment soldiers flies a howitzer attached by harnesses to a new battle position at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
The 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Bravo Battery fires a round from an M777-A2 howitzer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
The 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Bravo Battery fire direction center confirms firing data before radioing the gun line teams with new settings at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather fire missions to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
These 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Alpha Battery soldiers lock arms and move away from a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Forward Support Company soldier lies on top of a water buffalo to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment soldier peeks from the floor hatch of a Chinook at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)
A 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment (1-117 FA), Forward Support Company soldier stands atop a howitzer to attach slings to a Chinook crewed by soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. These soldiers conduct round-the-clock, all-weather missions during their annual training to maintain readiness and lethality. (Staff Sgt. Jaccob Hearn / U.S. Army National Guard)