18th Field Artillery Brigade

18th Field Artillery Brigade
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1943-1945, 1951-present
Country	United States
Branch	Army
Type	Field artillery
Role	Corps Force Fires HQs
Size	Brigade
Part of	XVIII Airborne Corps
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, NC
Nickname(s)	The Steel Brigade
Motto(s)	"Tough, Proud, Disciplined"
Equipment	M142 HIMARS
Engagements	World War II Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan Operation Iraqi Freedom
Website	http://www.bragg.army.mil/82nd/18Fires/Pages/default.aspx
Commanders
Current commander	COL John L. Rafferty
Command Sergeant Major	CSM Carlos A. Mendez
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flash
Brigade SSI with Airborne Tab (1992-2007)

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade is the XVIII Airborne Corps field artillery brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade is America's Contingency Field Artillery Brigade. The Brigade plans, synchronizes and employs long range precision strike fires and counterfires in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps, its subordinate divisions, and to Special Operations forces as required. When the call comes, the Brigade is ready to deploy, fight and win.

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade has served in multiple capacities over the past decade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the primary 155mm howitzer and HIMARS identity in the war in Afghanistan. The brigade was the only airborne field artillery brigade in the United States Army with 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment providing the majority of the support for the 18th Fires Brigade's airborne mission.

During the 1990s the Brigade had a single M198, 155mm battery (initially Battery C, 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery; later Battery C, 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment) assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in support of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). This made for a healthy rivalry with the other two batteries of the Battalion that were assigned in support of the 82nd Airborne Division. It allowed for the entire Battalion to train together at both Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg.

1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintained a full capacity to provide 155mm howitzer fires anywhere in the world within 18 hours in support of the 82d Airborne Division and while supporting other global responsibilities. The unit had the unique ability to employ 155mm howitzer platforms through a "Howitzer Heavy Drop Package" capability which essentially allowed for the weapon system to be dropped from an aircraft while its paratroopers would then place the weapon into action. 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment served as the United States Army's primary 155mm howitzer response in the Global War on Terrorism. In October 2013, the battalion's three firing batteries were reflagged to create 155mm composite battalions in the three brigade combat teams of the 82nd Airborne, and the battalion was officially inactivated at Fort Bragg on 14 March 2014.