STORM Project Office fields HIMARS launchers to first 3x9 Field Artillery Battalion

Photo By Darrell Ames | From October 12 through November 5, 2021, Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C. received additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers and training from the Strategic and Operational Rockets and Missiles (STORM) Project Office. The event marks the initial fielding to the first newly structured 3x9 battalion and the first HIMARS fielding since 2013. (Photos by 1LT Kendra Thomas, 3-27 FAR, 18th BDE public affairs)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

11.29.2021

Courtesy Story

Program Executive Office Missiles and Space

By, CPT (P) Chad Evans and Dr. Kerry Prowell, Strategic and Operational Rockets and Missiles Project Office (STORM), Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS)

Redstone Arsenal, November 8, 2021 – From October 12 through November 5, 2021, the Strategic and Operational Rockets and Missiles (STORM) Project Office of the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space conducted de-processing, equipment fielding and New Equipment Training for the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C. The training exercise served as two significant milestones for the U.S. Army’s Modernization and fleet expansion efforts – marking the first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fielding since 2013 and the initial launcher fielding to the first newly structured 3x9 battalion.

The Headquarters Department of the Army’s Structure Memorandum 2022-2026 directed the fleet expansion of active duty HIMARS BN organizations to increase the number of launchers from 16 to 27. Instead of two platoons of eight launchers, the new structure dictated three platoons of nine launchers. The 3-27 FAR is the first 2x8 HIMARS BN to expand its unit configuration to a 3x9 and receive additional launchers. Aligning with the “Grow the Army” initiative, the directive positions the Army to counter peer and near-peer threats and maintain combat overmatch.

The STORM Project Office instituted a hybrid train-the-trainers approach, successfully instructing 45 Soldiers consisting of 33 launcher crewmembers (13M) and 12 fire control specialists (13J) certified across the 3-27 FAR. The weeks-long exercises consisted of Long Range Communications Checkout and Loading Launcher Software tasks as well as fault isolation, Line Replaceable Unit and Position Navigation trainings among others. The overall training sessions culminated with a mission-simulated, live-fire exercise and an after action review with battalion and brigade senior leadership.

Despite COVID-19 delays that impacted production, transportation and in-person NET, the STORM team met the fielding date and fully conducted training for the Soldiers of 3-27 FAR. The unwavering commitment and communication with the battalion leadership, implementation of PEO MS personnel travel mitigation measures and industry partner’s COVID safety protocols during production allowed the HIMARS fielding and training to succeed flawlessly.

The 3rd Battalion, 321st FAR, 18th FAB is the next 3x9 unit to receive additional HIMARS launchers with fielding and training scheduled for July 2023.

• Date Taken: 11.29.2021
• Date Posted: 11.29.2021 12:11
• Story ID: 410108
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US