65th Field Artillery named Alexander Hamilton Award Winner for 2025

Courtesy Photo | Headquarters and Headquarters Btry 65th Field Artillery Brigade Soldiers pose for a photo taken by the Asymetric Team’s drone during the unit’s annual training field exercise at Camp Williams in March, 2025. The Utah National Guard unit was selected as the Alexander Hamilton Award recipient for fiscal year 2025, following a year of supporting joint and multinational operations across the Indo-Pacific and maintaining high readiness rates despite limited resources.The award nomination, submitted to the Field Artillery Proponent Office at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, highlighted HHB’s role as the Force Field Artillery Headquarters during Virtual Flag Coalition at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and its deployment to Camp Sendai, Japan, during Warfighter 25-2. During the exercise, the battery served as the counterfire headquarters for the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, supporting deep sensing, counterfire planning, and joint fires integration. (Courtesy photo, 65th Field Artillery Battalion, Utah Army National Guard)  

UTAH, UNITED STATES

05.13.2026

Courtesy Story

Utah National Guard Public Affairs

DRAPER, UTAH – Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 65th Field Artillery Brigade earned the Alexander Hamilton Award following a year of supporting joint and multinational operations across the Indo-Pacific and maintaining high readiness rates despite limited resources.

The award nomination, submitted to the Field Artillery Proponent Office at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, highlighted the unit's role as the Force Field Artillery Headquarters during Virtual Flag Coalition at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and its deployment to Camp Sendai, Japan, during Warfighter 25-2. During the exercise, the battery served as the counterfire headquarters for the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, supporting deep sensing, counterfire planning, and joint fires integration.

The unit also supported Exercise Freedom Shield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and participated in Operation Hydra, where Soldiers implemented standardized Link 16 procedures and communications systems supporting multiple Utah National Guard organizations.

According to the nomination packet, HHB maintained a 95% retention rate, 104% end strength, a 98% individual weapons qualification rate, and earned a 100% score during the state Command Supply Discipline Program inspection. The battery also sustained operational readiness on multiple radar systems while supporting artillery training and sustainment operations throughout Utah.

“It is with great confidence that I endorse Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 65th Field Artillery Brigade for the Alexander Hamilton Award,” said Lt. Col. Emilio Suazo, the brigade executive officer, in the endorsement memorandum. Suazo stated the battery “overcame every challenge” while operating in a resource-constrained environment and “exemplifies the best of the Field Artillery and the Army National Guard.”

• Date Taken: 05.13.2026
• Date Posted: 05.14.2026 13:00
• Story ID: 565220
• Location: UTAH, US