More loud noises, low-flying helicopters expected across South MS this week. Here’s why

About 400 U.S. military members will be a part of air and ground missions in Gulfport during a combat exercise that will send low-flying helicopters and noise across the area.

The event began Sunday and will continue through March 9. The Air National Guard is hosting members from the U.S. military’s active, guard and reserve units, a spokesperson for the Sentry South-Southern Strike Public Affairs office said in a news release.

The Air National Guard is holding the training at the Combat Readiness Training Center off Hewes Avenue in Gulfport. The Sentry South-Southern Strike Public Affairs office described the event as an “elite combat training exercise.”

There will be an increase in aircraft, low flying helicopters, simulated explosions, gunfire, and noise in the areas surrounding the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center. Noise levels could vary depending on the time of day, atmospheric conditions, and the number and type of aircraft involved, according to the news release. The training center is located across from the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport.

Videos and photos from past training exercises show U.S. Air Force planes landing at Camp Shelby, service members practicing loading dummies into vans on stretchers, treating injuries aboard airplanes, transferring patients from helicopters and responding to mass casualty scenarios.

Capt. Eric Korpi, the director of operations of the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, said last year that Gulfport and Camp Shelby offer service members a good place to train.

“Gulfport CRTC and Camp Shelby provided a one stop shop for the type of services, logistical support, expertise, and numerous training locations we need to simulate a real-world deployment setting that we might encounter during conflict with a near-peer or peer competitor,” Korpi said in a news release after the training last year.

Areas around the Combat Readiness Training Center could see more aircraft and low flying helicopters and also hear more noise for the next two weeks, the news release said.

Reporter Martha Sanchez contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM.