40th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery.

The Sunburst Division Artillery of the California ARNG is actively supporting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) while simultaneously maintaining section- and battery-level proficiencies.

In November 2002, 1-144 FA mobilized in support of Operation Armored Falcon to provide security for nine active Air Force and Air Reserve Bases throughout California. Currently, more than 300 of these fine California Redlegs are still answering their nation's call by supporting our Brothers in Blue. Also, Soldiers from 1-143 FA activated to protect the symbolic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and other critical installations of the California Army National Guard.

Concurrently, the 40th Division Artillery maintained warfighting proficiency by participating in Yama Sakura with the Japanese Defense Forces and the Cobra Gold FTX/CPX with I Corps and the Royal Thai Army. In addition, the Div Arty augmented the 40th Infantry Division Staff that served as the high command for the 49th Armored Division's Warfighter.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

1-144 FA and 1-143 FA both participated in highly successful BCTP exercises at Los Alamitos, California. These multi-day CPXs stressed commanders and their staffs while they enhanced the units' technical and tactical proficiency.

1-143 FA participated in a small unit exchange with the German Army during Annual Training 2003. After hosting soldiers from the German's 75th Panzerartillerie Battalion at Camp Roberts, California, 501-143 FA Soldiers traveled to Germany in September 2003 to train with the German Artillery.

After having served in Bosnia and Kosovo, F/144 TAB once again deployed, this time to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. F/144 TAB is routinely providing counterfire acquisitions for Combined Joint Task Force-180 targeting. By all reports, F/144 TAB is well engaged, "taking care of business." Additionally, fire supporters from 1-143 FA mobilized in support of The Stonewall Brigade, the 116th Infantry Regiment, for service in Operation Enduring Freedom.

The remainder of the Soldiers in the Sunburst Artillery are actively preparing to meet the challenges of future deployments in support of GWOT--both in the US and around the world.