Staff Sgt. Louise Smith of Binger, Oklahoma, receives

Staff Sgt. Louise Smith of Binger, Oklahoma, receives her cannon crewmember (13B) certificate of completion from her instructor, Sgt. 1st Class Keith Glenn at the Regional Training Institute in Oklahoma City, August 22, 2016. Smith is one of the first qualified female cannon crewmembers in the Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG). Among the graduating class are three other OKARNG females, who also graduated as the OKARNG's first qualified female cannon crewmembers. This rigorous and physically-demanding course teaches Soldiers a range of skills and focuses on identifying different types of howitzers, techniques of handling ammunition, setting fuses, preparing charges, loading and firing the howitzers, performing maintenance and other crewmember duties. This Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) came available for females after the removal of the military’s ban on women serving in combat arms in early 2013. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by 1st Lt. Leanna Litsch)