Communication is key for Arctic Angels in complex airborne fires training

By Master Sgt. Adam Ross
11th Airborne Division Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Amid the series of complex airborne maneuvers that brought heavy artillery, mortar teams and hundreds of paratroopers to Malamute Drop Zone, one of the most crucial tasks for success was about to be tested.
“Communication,” said Lt. Col. Ian Grundhauser, Commander of 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment. “We are exercising the full communications chain on the drop zone from sensor to shooter.”
With multiple fires elements involved, the communication aspect is akin to getting a full orchestra to produce (deadly) music together. For this unique joint forcible entry (JFE) exercise on Sept 24, 2026 – the Arctic Angel paratroopers played the hits.
While jumping their artillery teams and equipment is not out of the ordinary for 2-377 PFAR, the mission was made more complex by attaching mortar teams, who typically support infantry units. The short-range capabilities of the mortar teams added another layer of security on the seized air strip, allowing heavy artillery and command and control capabilities to land and set up.
“For JFE those mortars are detached from infantry and attached to airborne artillery,” said Grundhauser. “It allows us to better synchronize our fires, select the best asset to engage a target, and mass where mass is needed.”
On the drop zone, awaiting the arrival of heavy artillery, mortar team leader 1LT Joseph Taylor explained how this is different from his team’s usual airborne operations.
“It’s different in the sense that we’re doing a tactical follow-on with a battalion and brigade scheme of maneuver attached,” said Taylor. “We’re basically allowing the combat force flow into theater.”
This unique integration of mortars and heavy artillery in an airborne mission is rare at the battalion level. It’s usually reserved for a brigade level exercise or a rotation at a combat training center.
“Oftentimes your first time practicing it is at a CTC or at a brigade FTX just preceding it,” said Grundhauser. “I was very impressed with how effective our entire team was during execution. Our communication architecture was working because we have established relationships and we brought everyone into the planning and preparation process.”