I Corps Artillery.

I Corps Artillery, ARNG, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, continues to provide Total Force fire support to I Corps--America's Corps. Readiness and a focus on realistic training were our goals for the year. I Corps Artillery remains battle-focused and continues to prepare to deploy and fight anywhere, in any contingency.

This year I Corps Artillery participated in four major exercises. First was Cascade Mist, a precursor exercise to the I Corps BCTP Warfighter that was held in September at Fort Lewis, Washington, with the corps' base units. In January, I Corps Artillery deployed to Japan for another successful Yama Sakura exercise supported by the 115th FA Brigade from the Wyoming Army National Guard, the 153d FA Brigade from the Arizona Army National Guard and the 135th FA Brigade from the Missouri Army National Guard. In May, I Corps Artillery deployed to Thailand to take part in Cobra Gold.

In June, we participated in the Global Patriot exercise with deployments to Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and Fort Lewis, Washington. The 2-123 FA, Illinois Army National Guard, and 1-152 FA, Maine Army National Guard, deployed to train with our Utah FA battalions in a very successful operation that included live firing for a JAAT. A headquarters slice from I Corps also supported operations with the FSE in the deep operations coordination cell (DOCC) during the exercise. Global Patriot was a joint exercise held with the Air National Guard and Air Force with operations centered on Dugway Proving Ground; Fort Drum, New York; and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The exercise focused on deep operations, managing air assets and working sensor-to-shooter links in the corps area of operations. The distributed exercise was portrayed in the joint conflict model operated at the I Corps Simulation Center at Fort Lewis.

In all these exercises, the corps artillery significantly influenced the battle by firing ATACMS at high-payoff targets deep in the corps and division zones and by planning, coordinating and executing all SEAD and joint SEAD missions in support of corps deep attacks. By employing advanced warfighting techniques in the corps deep battle, we were instrumental in the OPFOR's overwhelming defeat.

I Corps Artillery has further enhanced its ability to command and control fires on the battlefield by successfully fielding Version 11 of AFATDS. Fielded in March, the new software will give I Corps Artillery the edge in fire support it needs to fight and win in any contingency.

I Corps Artillery has dedicated much of the year to prepare for I Corps' Warfighter to be held in the first part of the 2001 training year. We have participated in several DOCC exercises, to include Cascade Cudgel and Cascade Command at Fort Lewis. A major emphasis has been to develop a totally digital TOC.

Utah ARNG. I Corps Artillery plays an important and active role in the Utah Army National Guard in addition to its warfighting mission. Corps artillery provides administrative, logistical, operational and training support for two instate battalions: the 1-145 FA (155-mm Towed) in Salt Lake City and 2-222 FA (Paladin) in Cedar City.

We also support a firing battery and FIST slice: B Battery, 1-148 FA (155-mm self-propelled) and Detachment 3, HHB, 1-148 FA, located in Logan and Salt Lake City, respectively. The latter units are part of the 1-148 FA headquartered in Boise, Idaho, which is DS to the 116th Armored Cavalry Brigade.

RC FA Brigades. I Corps Artillery continues to be a leader in providing training assistance, guidance and coordination for a major portion of the Reserve Component Field Artillery brigades. These units and their associated Field Artillery battalions are located throughout the US.

Participation with these brigades during exercises and training conferences continues to be one of the highlights of I Corps Artillery's responsibilities. America's Corps Artillery is proud to be associated with these high-quality soldiers who are committed to the defense of our country.

January 2000 brought the I Corps fire support community to gether for the 18th Annual Fire Support conference at Salt Lake City. Brigadier General Stanley J. Gordon, I Corps Artillery Commander, hosted the conference and presented command guidance and direction for the corps fire support units. This guidance set the standards for the productive mission-oriented training for the upcoming year.

Conference attendees included LTG James T. Hill, Commander of I Corps; MG Roger C. Schultz, Director of the Army National Guard; BG Gordon, I Corps Artillery Commander; and a representative from the JRTC. Conference presentations covered a variety of fire support issues with presentations by the I Corps G2 and G3, Field Artillery School, I Corps Simulation Center, 311th Corps Support Command, as well as Training and Doctrine Command System Managers (TSMs).

Also in attendance were representatives from a large portion of the Field Artillery brigades, division artilleries, and separate Field Artillery battalions. The conference continues to provide an excellent opportunity for command interface in I Corps and the fire support community.

The conference concluded with a change of command ceremony. BG Gordon passed the colors to COL J.D. Johnson, who assumed command of I Corps Artillery, effective 8 January 2000.

The challenges of diminishing dollars, transitioning, restationing and new equipment fieldings are pressing, but all take a back seat to ensuring the nation has a viable fire support team ready to deploy worldwide. I Corps Artillery is committed to meeting the challenges and fusing the Total Force into one. We are truly America's Corps Artillery!