‘Thunderbolts’ with the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (FA), 17th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) deployed HIMARS to Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska on September 12th, in support of Defender Pacific 2020. This mission focuses on expeditionary deployment operations through M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rapid infiltration (HIRAIN) training—which showcases a crew’s combat readiness and quick-precision-striking ability by rapidly preparing and mobilizing the HIMARS, all while validating the crew’s long-range communications.This HIRAIN mission validates 5-3 FA and 17th FAB’s ability to rapidly project combat power in the Indo-Pacific region.
It took the tireless efforts of 5-3 FA’s Soldiers to make this operation a success. Defender Pacific 20 is a joint exercise that demonstrates strategic readiness by deploying combat credible forces across the Indo-Pacific Theater of operations in support of the U.S. National Defense Strategy. The 17th Field Artillery Brigade—the Force Field Artillery (FFA) Headquarters for America’s First Corps—is deploying HIMARS to demonstrate their readiness to shape the fight as the power projection platform of the Indo-Pacific theatre. It is currently based in Joint Base Lewis McChord Washington as Force Fires Headquarters for I Corps.
