18th Fires Brigade

18th Field Artillery Brigade
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1997-present
Country	United States
Branch	Army
Type	General support / reinforcing field artillery
Size	Brigade
Part of	XVIII Airborne Corps
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, NC
Nickname(s)	The Steel Brigade
Motto(s)	"Tough, Proud, Disciplined"
Equipment	HIMARS
Engagements	War in Afghanistan Iraq Campaign
Commanders
Current commander	COL Jon Harvey
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flash

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade is the only field artillery brigade under XVIII Airborne Corps. It is based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It provides support to the Corps and other units as required. The 18th Field Artillery Brigade consists of the following units:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
• 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment (United States) (M777 Howitzer)
• 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (M777 Howitzer)
• 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (United States) (HIMARS)
• 188th Brigade Support Battalion
• Battery D (Target Acquisition), 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
• 206th Signal Company

18th Field Artillery Brigade plans, synchronizes and employs joint and combined fires in support of forced entry operations, designated division or combined joint task forces and on order integrates attached ground and air maneuver forces in order to conduct full spectrum operations.

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 90s the Brigade had a single 155mm battery(C5/8)assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at FT Campbell, Kentucky. This made for a healthy rivalry with the other units that were with the 82nd Airborne Division. It allowed for the entire Brigade to train together at both Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg.

1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a fully capacity to provide 155mm howitzer fires anywhere in the world within 18 hours in support of the 82nd Airborne Division and while supporting other global responsibilities. The unit has the unique ability to employ 155mm howitzer platforms through a "Howitzer Heavy Drop Package" capability which essentially allows for the weapon system to be dropped from an aircraft while its paratroopers will then place the weapon into action. 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment serves as the United States Army's primary 155mm howitzer response in the Global War on Terrorism.

3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a limited airborne ability. During 2008 while serving as the General Support Artillery unit in Operation Enduring Freedom 8–9, 3rd Section, Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment became the first United States Army unit to fire the GPS Guided XM982 Excalibur Munition in support of combat operations while serving in the volatile Kunar Province while supporting the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment [1] of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS) has served in the capacity to support various United States Army and other agencies with accurate and effective field artillery rocket fires.

According to the Institute of Heraldry, "The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade on 29 May 1979. It was amended to include the airborne tab, add metric measurements and revise the description on 21 October 1992. It was again amended to change the color of the airborne tab on 5 February 2003. The insignia was redesignated for the 18th Fires Brigade and amended to delete the airborne tab on 22 March 2007."

As of August 2009, the 18th Fires Brigade now dons the "All American" patch of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 18th Fires Brigade became a general support field artillery brigade in July 2008 and falls under control of the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.