HEADQUARTERS, U.S. ARMY ALASKA, JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Soldiers from U.S. Army Alaska’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division will be firing 60mm mortars and 105mm howitzers into the Eagle River Flats Impact Area next week, beginning Dec. 8 and ending Dec. 11.

Howitzers and mortars are indirect-fire weapons used by infantry and artillery soldiers to launch projectiles over long distances. The howitzers used in next week’s training will be airdropped from U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft onto Malemute Drop Zone. Airborne artillery soldiers will then parachute into the same drop zone, secure and set up the weapons and fire their missions.

The Eagle River Impact area is located on the north side of JBER, where Eagle River empties into Eagle Bay. Areas most likely to be affected by the noise are the Chugiak and Birchwood area, along with Knik-Goose Bay across the Knik Arm from the impact area.

The mortars are scheduled to fire Monday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. The artillery fire will begin Tuesday evening and is scheduled to be completed by Thursday morning.

Residents living around the installation may hear noise from the impacts, depending on weather patterns and their proximity to JBER’s ranges.

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