GULFPORT — The Air National Guard will host the Sentry South 26-2 training exercise from Feb. 20 through March 6 at multiple locations across Mississippi, including the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center and the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.
Approximately 1,100 service members from active-duty, National Guard and reserve components of the U.S. military are expected to participate in the large-scale combat training exercise.
Sentry South 26-2 is a Large Force Employment exercise focused on major combat operations and joint maritime opportunities in a contested or degraded operational environment, according to officials. The training applies joint and combined warfighting doctrine against realistic and robust enemy integrated threat systems under safe and controlled conditions.
Residents living near training sites may notice increased military activity during the exercise, including additional aircraft operations, low-flying helicopters and elevated noise levels.
The training will take place at facilities in Gulfport, Camp Shelby and other locations around the state.