25th Infantry Division (Light) Artillery.

The 25th Div Arty, Tropic Thunder, Schofield Barracks, HI, has had a challenging year. It conducted many training events, including a division Warfighter and LFXs at Pohakuloa Training Area, culminating in train-ups to support deployments for OIF and OEF.

In February, the Div Arty established itself as a maneuver brigade headquarters with three infantry battalions and eight provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) to cover 16 provinces in one of the most volatile regions of Afghanistan. In June, the unit was redesignated Combined Task Force (CTF) Thunder after completing a relief-in-place with the 6th Marine Regiment. CTF Thunder will redeploy in spring 2005.

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3-7 FA recently deployed in support of OEF V. The first Steel Soldiers set foot in Afghanistan in March 2004. In addition to providing fire support, TF Steel conducts civil military operations in the Kandahar Province. Soldiers of TF Steel continue with the proverbial "fire in their eye" attitude. Never Broken!

F/7 FA began the year by learning the skills of MOS 11C Mortarmen on the M120 mortar at Fort Benning, GA. In March, the battery began supporting units throughout Afghanistan: mortar fires, patrols in the Kandahar Province, village assessments and vehicle checkpoints. In August, the Big Guns received their M198 howitzers and began providing fires along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

2-11 FAR is deployed in OIF II, augmented by two Q-37 radars and a Q-36 section. The On Time battalion is task organized to the 2d BCT and provides DS fires and conducts stability and support operations, including establishing Iraqi government institutions and security forces and laying the groundwork for successful national elections. 2-11 FAR has fired 4,000 rounds in support of maneuver as well as base defense. It has completed 220 civil military projects for more than five million dollars. When the battalion redeploys, it will become part of the Stryker Brigade.

The Div Arty's deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism mark a historical benchmark in diversity and accomplishment in full-spectrum operations and command and control of maneuver formations. The 25th Div Arty has upheld the proud heritage of the King of Battle. Tropic Thunder!