UPDATE: According to its mission statement, "17th Fires Brigade trains and prepares for combat; on order deploys to any area of operations to plan, synchronize, and execute combined, and joint fires and effects; integrate attached ground and air maneuver forces and be prepared to function as a maneuver headquarters in support of full spectrum operations."

Change to the Thunderbolts means nothing.

So news of a change to its Friday night ball will probably be taken in stride.

Originally, Gen. Daniel Allyn, the 20th commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command, was the guest speaker for the event. But the general canceled today and will not be able to attend.

Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, the 7th Infantry Division commander at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will be the guest speaker and award presenter at the ceremony, which will still be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. 

Below is our original post on the 17th Fires Saint Barbara's Day Ball.

It will be a night of eating, dancing and celebrating a job well done.

Friday, Feb. 21, the 17th Fires Brigade will host its annual formal gathering, the Saint Barbara's Day Ball. 

Gen. Daniel Allyn, the 20th commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command, will be the special guest speaker and award presenter at the ceremony, which will be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. 

About 50 soldiers from the brigade will receive the Saint Barbara Award for their performance on their job during the year.

"It's recognizing those soldiers who have been nominated by their commanding officers," said Capt. Tania Donovan, the public affairs officer for the 17th Fires Brigade.

Also recognized with awards will be spouses and family members of soldiers in the 17th Fires Brigade. For being a good support as they volunteered to support families while soldiers are on assignment, they'll receive the Molly Pitcher Award. The award is named after Molly Pitcher, who was supportive during the American Revolutionary War.

Allyn was going to present a national award to Sgt. 1st Class White, the brigade's equal opportunity non-commissioned officer. Instead, White will receive the award at a national ceremony. White is being recognized for his work in preventing discrimination in race and gender and is the winner of the FORSCOM Equal Opportunity Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

"The award is for having done an excellent job in that position," said Donovan. "He's competed against others doing the exact same job across all of the Army."

Allyn, a graduate of West Point Academy, oversees the training and equipping of 265,000 active soldiers and 560,000 soldiers in the National Guard and Army Reserve. He previously served as commanding general of the XVII Airborne Corps. He was also commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, America's First Team, which is one of the most famous and most decorated divisions.