Hearing or seeing low-flying military helicopters or other aircraft? It may be because the Air National Guard is hosting a massive exercise at multiple locations in and around the state.

The Sentry South-Southern Strike 2025 exercise began Monday, Jan. 27, and will continue through Friday, Feb. 7, at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, and other locations. Approximately 500 service members from active, guard and reserve components of the U.S. military are participating in this elite combat training exercise, according to Air National Guard Capt. Kiara N. Spann.

“There will be an increase in aircraft, low-flying helicopters, and noise in the areas surrounding the training locations,” Spann advised.

Southern Strike is a large-scale joint and international combat exercise featuring counter insurgency, air supremacy, close air support, enroute casualty care, non-combatant evacuations, and maritime and riverine special operations.

For more information on the exercise, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/southernstrike.