Field Artillery Brigade

This is the job of field artillery, a branch of the US Army where speed, distance, precision, and results determine who controls the battlefield before ground forces ever make contact.

From Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 18th Field Artillery Brigade leads the Army's rapidly deployable artillery units.

As the largest HIMARS brigade, its soldiers must be prepared to deploy anywhere in the world within 10 days of notification and deliver long-range precision fires in support of 18th Airborne Corps, its divisions, and Special Operations Forces.

I sat down with the command team of 18th FA, Colonel Andy Hersek and Command Sergeant Major George Cabrera, to talk about what it takes to maintain readiness as the battlefield rapidly changes.

We're here.

You've welcomed us in to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

We're at the headquarters of your command, 18th Field Artillery Brigade, part of the 18th Airborne Corps, and you have today, and I would say always, field artillery has been a critical component of America's ability to project power and combat force.

But today, what we've seen over the last couple of months has really put our field artillery capabilities front and center in modern warfare.