FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division Artillery is set to reactivate Oct. 16 at a ceremony on Cavalry Parade Field.

Division artillery, or DIVARTY, is a brigade headquarters-sized unit that has the mission of effectively synchronizing joint fires across Fort Riley and the 1st Inf. Div. DIVARTY fills a unique role in the “Big Red One,” said Col. Thomas Bolen, the unit’s commander. Most people are familiar with artillery, he said, but what DIVARTY does is set standards for that artillery. Its Soldiers train and certify sections and enable higher-level exercises.

“We feel privileged to be activated to be the DIVARTY,” Bolen said. “There’s such a great team already in place.”

DIVARTY’s return doesn’t mean area residents will see an increase in big equipment on the post. The division’s two field artillery battalions will maintain their guns and radar equipment. The biggest pieces the DIVARTY will bring is radar and communications equipment, Bolen said.

While the Oct. 16 ceremony marks DIVARTY’s official return to the Big Red One, Soldiers and leaders were in place months ago to move its mission forward. The unit is continuing to build its formation with an expectation to be at 90 percent strength by January, according to information from the unit.

DIVARTY inactivated 10 years ago in Germany. The process began more than a year ago to reactivate DIVARTY units in the Army’s 10 divisions, and the 1st Inf. Div.’s DIVARTY is one of the last two to stand up this year.

Release from the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office.