NATCHEZ — For underserved residents of Natchez and Adams County, the cavalry is coming.

The U.S. Army Reserves and Air Force Reserves have partnered with Delta Regional Authority to host a two-week innovative readiness training session for Army medical staff, which will also provide free basic medical care to local residents.

Officers in charge of the program came before the Board of Aldermen Tuesday to update city officials on the planning process.

Army Lt. Col. David Parker said the main purpose of the mission was as a training event, to prepare soldiers for deployments during humanitarian crises to locations both in the country and overseas.

Parker said the program could provide medical needs such as glasses and can provide diagnoses and treatments to those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes.

The exercise is in the initial stages of planning, Parker said, but was tentatively scheduled for August 2016, and may take place on Natchez campus of Alcorn State University or Copiah-Lincoln Community College .

Mayor Butch Brown told the military personnel they could expect a warm welcome from locals in Natchez, and thanked them for their service.

Organizers of the group met Wednesday to schedule future planning trips.

Delta Regional Authority project manager and military liaison Brittney Lindberg said Adams County was identified as a possible location for the exercise in 2014 because of the percentage of the population at or below the poverty line.

Ferriday hosted an innovative readiness training session a few years ago, Lindberg said, and a month-long training operation is taking place in Memphis this year as well.