Spc. Tyler McKinney “hangs a round” in preparation

Spc. Tyler McKinney “hangs a round” in preparation to fire the 60mm mortar round after Spc. Oscar Valle correctly aims the mortar tube August 3, 2017. Both Soldiers are from the headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 158th Infantry Battalion, Arizona National Guard in support of Exercise Northern Strike 17, Camp Grayling, Michigan. “Hanging a round” is the term used for holding the mortar round at the top of the mortar tube just before the round is released and fired from the tube. Northern Strike 17 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting approximately 5,000 service members from 13 states and five coalition countries during the first two weeks of August 2017 at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The newly accredited NS 17 demonstrates the Michigan National Guard's ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (Michigan National Guard photo by Spc. Alan Prince)