Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division demonstrates their ability to rapidly deploy in support of 25th ID Contingency Response Force (CRF) mission by working and airmen from the 535th Airlift Squadron, 15th Wing work side-by-side Jan. 8th on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The CRF mission is designed to rapidly deploy Soldiers within the Asia-Pacific's area of responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance and or combat operations.

"Today's loading of our M777 howitzers onto C-17 aircraft was a great opportunity to rehearse our ability to rapidly deploy to anywhere in the United States Pacific Command area of operations or around the world," said Maj. Sean McEwen, the operation officer assigned to 2-11th FAR. "Within a few hours, our howitzers can be airborne and en route to any contingency, bringing precise and lethal firepower to support 2nd BCT."

By conducting realistic training 2nd BCT demonstrates their ability to respond and provide assistants in a moment noticed.

According to 1st Lt. Patrick Finnerty, from Rochester, N.Y., a platoon leader assigned to Battery A, 2nd Bn., 11th FA Regt., this training allows the Soldiers to see and go through the deployment process and conduct a realistic mission.

"This training serves as two purposes," said Finnerty. "First, we are able to go through our standard operating procedures for a deploying a unit and fix any necessary changes. Second, by going to the Big Island we are able to train and shoot different fire missions we normally wouldn't be able to do on Schofield."

By going to the big island the unit is able to meet the brigade commander intent, maximize its training, and insure its readiness is maintained.

"The leaders and Soldiers of Gator Battery (A/2-11 FA) did an excellent job demonstrating their high level of readiness," said McEwen. "They progressed through all inspections flawlessly, clearly demonstrating their ability to rapidly alert, marshal, and deploy on short notice." By working with the Air Force the unit also learned the capabilities of C-17 Aircraft.

"We learned some important lessons today about working with the Air Force and loading our equipment and personnel onto these aircrafts," McEwen stated. "The C-17s reduce our deployment time to a contingency from days and weeks down to hours, and it's imperative that we learn together how to accomplish this mission."

The 2nd BCT is committed to be being a vital and ready fighting force by conducting realistic and challenging training that provides leaders and Soldiers hands-on experience as they continues to prepare for the CRF mission.