28th Infantry Division Artillery

FA Journal, Nov-Dec, 2004

The 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery (Div Arty), Pennsylvania ARNG, has seen modernization and transformation and varied missions since the last Red Book update in November-December of 2002. The Div Arty headquarters deployed by almost one-third to Kosovo as part of the Headquarters for the MultiNational Brigade East in the first National Guard-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) rotation.

F/109 FA (Target Acquisition) also supported two missions for the Program Manager (PM) of Firefinder at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The PM missions were to validate new software developed in response to unique challenges posed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In addition, all elements of the Div Arty manned state active duty missions in support of the war on terrorism, performing both presence patrols and securing the state's nuclear power plants.

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D/229 FA redeployed to Pennsylvania from its Operation Enduring Freedom mission in Europe as part of Task Force Keystone in February 2003. The unit currently is looking ahead to Paladin new equipment training (NET) in the next training year.

In December 2003, the 1-107 FA mobilized its three batteries to perform a Military Police mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, becoming one of the first FA battalions to assume this challenging mission--along with 1-109 FA, which mobilized two batteries. In May 2004 1-109 FA lost the first Soldier killed in action in the 28th Infantry Division since World War II: Specialist Sherwood Baker. Unfortunately, 1-107 FA also lost two Soldiers killed in action during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in May of this year: Sergeant Carl Curran and Specialist Mark Kasecky.

Last fall, 1-108 FA began transforming into a Stryker brigade MTOE with M198 howitzers. The battalion conducted NET for the howitzers and other equipment.

In September, 1-108 FA conducted an AFATDS NET with other Div Arty elements. The NET is part of a larger initiative to modernize and accelerate AFATDS fielding throughout the 28th Div Arty--Charged to Excellence!