Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, deliver M777A2 howitzers to a firing point at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center on Feb. 27, 2015. The extreme cold weather training ex...

A Michigan Army National Guard Soldier, 1436th Engineering Company, clears snow at a firing point at the 40 Complex at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Feb. 27, 2015. The firing point was cleared to make way for Soldiers of the 1st Battal...

Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, prepare an M777A2 howitzer to fire during an extreme cold weather training exercise at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Feb. 27, 2015...

Michigan Army National Guard Spc. Corie Raglin, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, sets up a column meter in preparation of extreme cold weather training at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Feb. 27, 2015. Soldie...

Soldiers assigned the 1463rd Engineering Company, Michigan National Guard, roll across the 40 Complex at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center on miniature excavators prior to a live-fire exercise being executed by Soldiers assigned to Bravo B...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, perform a maintenance check on the M777A2 Howitzer cannon prior to a live fire exercise on Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center as par...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, guide an excavator to penetrate icy terrain along a firing point before grounding the howitzer cannon during a live-fire exercise on Camp Gray...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard dig into frigid terrain on Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center before grounding the M777A2 howitzer cannon prior to a live-fire exerci...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard dig into frigid terrain on Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center before grounding the M777A2 howitzer cannon prior to a live-fire exerci...

A Soldier assigned to the 1463rd Engineer Company, Michigan National Guard utilizes a an excavator to entrench the M777A2 howitzer cannon prior to a live-fire exercise on the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center during Cold Weather Operations...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, fire the M777A2 howitzer cannon during a live-fire exercise as part of Cold Weather Operations, Feb. 27, 2015. With temperatures dropping near...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, fire the M777A2 howitzer cannon during a live-fire exercise as part of Cold Weather Operations, Feb. 27, 2015. With temperatures dropping near...

Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, dig out an entrenchment to stabilize an M777A2 howitzer cannon during a live fire exercise on Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center as ...

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, conducted cold weather training at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Feb. 27, 2015. The training, consisting of preparing and firing rounds from an M777A2 howitzer in sub-zero temperatures, was the final step in the 119th's Artillery Skills Proficiency Tasks (ASPT) training requirement.

"This is the second year in a row that we've operated in below-zero temperatures," said Maj. Obi B. Yordy, executive officer of the 1st Battalion. "Everything worked great, morale was high and we accomplished all of our training objectives."

The training exercise served additional purpose, providing Soldiers an opportunity to practice wear of extreme cold weather gear including trousers, jackets, boots, gloves and head covers. Wearing the gear while operating in sub-zero temperatures assists in increasing Soldiers' confidence in their equipment from a gear and weapon standpoint.

The 119th FA recently began training in winter weather again since the drawdown of troops in Iraq. In addition, in 2012, Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, put out a directive that Michigan National Guard Soldiers train for preparedness in all seasons of weather.

According to Yordy, this essential training increases his Soldiers' efficiency in all operating conditions.

"It's important to help prepare, to answer the nation's call if needed, and to increase our proactive readiness," Yordy said.