DONNELLY TRAINING AREA, Alaska — Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment (PFAR) made history within the 11th Airborne Division as they successfully executed the first artillery battalion live fire evaluation in the division’s history.

The battalion, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, deployed more than 400 paratroopers and 100 tactical vehicles 350 miles north to the Donnelly Training Area near Delta Junction, Alaska. The 16-day exercise, which ran from Oct. 13-29, 2026, culminated in the successful completion of Artillery Table (AT) XVIII—the first of its kind within the 11th Airborne Division.

An Artillery Table XVIII evaluation is a critical milestone that validates an artillery battalion’s capability to provide direct, synchronized supporting fires for a mobile brigade combat team. Because an Artillery Table XVIII requires an external evaluation typically conducted by a Division Artillery (DIVARTY) headquarters, a capability the newly formed 11th Airborne Division is slated to stand up next year, the division’s Fire Support Element engineered a unique solution. They sourced external evaluators from I Corps, securing critical evaluator support from the 17th Field Artillery Brigade and artillerymen from 7th Infantry Division out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“Executing the first-ever Table XVIII battalion live fire in the division is a monumental achievement for our paratroopers and the Division,” said Lt. Col. Ian P. Grundhauser, commander of the 2-377 PFAR. “This exercise laid the groundwork and established the model for what battalion-level evaluations will look like for the 11th Airborne Division, and ultimately for our DIVARTY when it stands up next year.”

The road to battalion qualification required the unit to first qualify all three of its firing elements, Alpha (Falcon), Bravo (Eagle), and Charlie (Raven) batteries, during Artillery Table XV battery live-fire evaluations. Once the batteries successfully qualified by firing hundreds of live rounds, the battalion transitioned into the complex Table XVIII phase.

During the final evaluation, the battalion was forced to operate in a highly contested environment. Oppositional forces conducted hit-and-run direct fire engagements against the artillery positions, but the primary threat came in the form of simulated enemy counterfire which is one of the greatest threats to modern artillery. To survive, paratroopers had to rapidly mass fires through simultaneous shooting from disparate, remote locations, and then immediately displace their howitzers to new firing points before the simulated enemy could retaliate.

The paratroopers achieved all training objectives and safely fired more than 600 artillery rounds, despite facing brutal subzero Arctic conditions. Throughout the 16-day window, temperatures plummeted to zero degrees Fahrenheit, winds howled at 35 knots, and the training area accumulated between 12 and 18 inches of snow.

“This evaluation proved that we can mass fires, maintain tactical survivability against a modern threat, and deliver devastating, precise lethality in some of the most unforgiving, Arctic conditions on the planet,” Grundhauser said. “Our Arctic Angels are trained, qualified, and ready to support the maneuver fight.”

Following the successful completion of this historic evaluation, the battalion redeployed south to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, establishing a tested precedent for cold-weather artillery operations in the Pacific theater.

Story by MAJ Ian Roth 

11th Airborne Division

PALAWAN, Philippines– Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) conducted a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire iteration on April 27, 2026, in Palawan, Philippines. Conducted in coordination with U.S. Marines, Philippine marines and Australian soldiers, this event was part of a counter landing live fire exercise designed to repel a simulated enemy landing force across multipleranges, from deep-water approaches to shallow littorals, in defense of the island. The HIMARS maneuvered onto the beach from a concealed position and launched four Reduced Range Practice Rockets, effectively demonstrating the system’s mobility and precision. Thepractice and preparation by Alpha battery soldiers resulted in an exceptionally fluid and rapidly executed fire mission.

“Today what we demonstrated was the absolute power that the land component brings to the fightin the pacific.” Said Lt. Col. Alexander Mullin, commander of the 5th Battalion, 3rd ArtilleryRegiment. ”Huge gains were made with the interoperability between the nations’ forces, communication and coordination of multiple fires were on full display during the exercise.” Mullin stated, “through being here we are demonstrating the cross-domain contact layer concept, which is our ability to provide a covering force in the pacific and achieve decisive effects.” The Cross-Domain Contact Layer is not merely a system or standalone capability; rather, it serves as a framework for synchronizing legacy, exquisite and emerging capabilities. It integrates sensing,effects, and artificial intelligence-enabled command and control into a persistent, all-domain architecture that maintains continuous contact from the operational deep area to the close fight.

Positioning HIMARS for these exercises is a formidable logistical undertaking. Meticulous attention is required to adhere to host nation regulations during road movements, necessitatingacute situational awareness of local infrastructure, including small bridges and low-hanging power lines. Upon departing paved routes, the HIMARS navigates unforgiving jungle environments, mountainous terrain, and sandy littoral zones. Throughout this process, all logistics are closely coordinated in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“All the live fires that we have done could not have been done without the support of the Philippine marines and the Philippine Army as we make our movements across the country,” said 1st Sgt. Shawn Washburn, Alpha Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

The environment challenges soldiers to operate beyond their comfort zones of typical home station training, acclimating them to the rigorous conditions they may encounter in future conflicts. Furthermore, the tropical climate provides invaluable opportunities for personnel to adapt and endure weather challenges while sustaining operations in an austere environment and maintaining physical readiness.

Story by SSG Brandon Rickert 

7th Infantry Division