Soldiers handle Stinger missile as part of training for Operation Clear Skies

Pfc. Michael Forrest, a gunner with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, crouches atop a Humvee and receives a Stinger missile launch tube from his team leader Sgt. David Cook while performing Avenger missile reload procedures May 13, 2011, at the unit’s McConnelsville, Ohio armory. Soldiers with the 2-174th are conducting Avenger crew drills in preparation for a scheduled mobilization to the national capital region. This is the second time the battalion has been selected to support Operation Clear Skies, a mission which provides continuous air defense of the skies over Washington, D.C. The National Guard has provided air defense artillery units for the mission to safeguard the national capital region since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (Ohio National Guard Photo by Sgt. Peter Kresge)