The DoD has released a photo showing the U.S. Army’s new M17 pistol getting put through its paces by a Soldier deployed overseas, marking the first time—that we’re aware of—the gun has been pictured in use on deployment.

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“Brave Rifles” Use The M17 Pistol

In the photo above, an unidentified U.S. Army soldier with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, a.k.a. the “Brave Rifles,” can be seen firing his M17 pistol while wearing NVGs at a handgun night fire range. The included DoD caption says the image was taken “near the Iraqi-Syrian border” on June 21, 2018.

The photo caption states: “Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition partners provided fire support and continually work on combat skills to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces as they continued Operation Roundup, the military offensive to rid the final pockets of the terrorist organization from the Middle Euphrates River Valley in Syria.”

Another batch of photos reveals that the 3rd Cavalry Regiment received the M17 pistol at Fort Hood, Texas—where the unit is based—at the beginning of January.

The 3rd Cavalry Regiment deployed this past spring, replacing the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division as part of a regular rotation of forces in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. The exact date of deployment isn’t known; an Army article dated May 29 shows the transfer of authority ceremony between the two units taking place.

The M17/M18 pistol is based on the Sig Sauer P320. Sig Sauer won the Army’s Modular Handgun System competition to replace the Beretta M9 in January, beating out Glock, FN, Beretta and Smith & Wesson for the $580 million contract. Speaking of Sig, the company recently posted a video showing the M17 being shipped to the U.S. Army. Check it out below.