FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2015) -- For the first time in more than a decade, the 10th Mountain Division Artillery colors were uncased and displayed during a ceremony that symbolizes a new beginning and a return to a state of readiness for warfare that requires the synchronization of "massed artillery fire."
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, and Col. Donald Paquin, 10th Mountain Division Artillery commander, and their command sergeants major, Command Sgt. Maj. R. Ray Lewis and Command Sgt. Maj. Dwalyn Dasher, respectively, uncased the DIVARTY colors during a ceremony that marked its activation Oct. 16 at the Magrath Sports Complex on Fort Drum.
Division artilleries consolidate the operations of artillery units across a division under a single command. The 10th DIVARTY was intended to deploy rapidly, plan and coordinate fire support, and provide timely and accurate fires to support 10th Mountain Division (LI) combat operations.
Since DIVARTY's inactivation in 2004, as part of the Army's Modular Force restructuring, the 10th Mountain Division's artillery battalions have provided fire support for their respective brigade combat teams, which trained, maintained and deployed their artillery alongside infantry and cavalry units for counterinsurgency operations.
As the Army moves toward decisive action operations, in preparation for force-on-force situations, division artilleries have been reactivated to maximize affectivity of their organic fire support.
"A resurgent adversary has shown us, in Eastern Europe, high-intensity conflict is more than a probability and much more lethal with modern technology," Paquin said. "We must recognize what we will ask (DIVARTY) Soldiers to do, and that is to destroy, neutralize and suppress the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fires."
New York State Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said all Americans rely on 10th Mountain Division's ability to face any foe, regardless of the method of warfare.
While the division headquarters prepares for the upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, Bannister made note of the roles the division will have to fulfill despite challenging circumstances.
"As the world's trajectory of instability continues to increase, we must be prepared to answer that call," Bannister said. "Building and sustaining readiness for our forces in the future will be very challenging unless our nation thwarts the looming sequestration that will result in much deeper Armywide downsizing and significant budget cuts."
DIVARTY, which received its "baptism of fire" during historic assaults on Italy's Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere during WWII, is a proven combat unit, Bannister said. He added that DIVARTY will bring world-class indirect fires capability to the 10th Mountain Division.
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