Arctic Angels Make History with the Division’s First-Ever Battalion Artillery Live Fire Evaluation

Paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division make history by executing Alaska’s first subzero battalion-level artillery live-fire evaluation. 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