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Division Artillery Regiment, 6th Infantry Division

The 6th Infantry Division's Division Artillery Regiment was activated on 1 May 1998 pursuant to General Orders Number 454, Headquarters Philippine Army, dated 5 may 1998. Its primary mission was to destroy, neutralize or suppress the enemy with timely and accurate artillery fires in support to the 6th Infantry Division and integrate all fire support into combined arms operation.

The Regiment was organized in order to meet the artillery requirements of the 6th Infantry Division, which was then confronting a growing number of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. The 12th Field Artillery Battalion, which was then the only Field Artillery Battalion supporting the 6th Infantry Division was placed under the command regiment. Simultaneously the 14th and 16th Field Artillery Battalions were activated and assigned to the Division Artillery Regiment. The two newly activated Field Artillery Battalions were staffed by the absorption of 2 batteries from the 6th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division; one battery from the 3rd Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division; and one 155mm battery from the 9th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Initially the 12th Field Artillery Battalion was organized into A, B, and C Batteries, the 14th into F, G, and H Batteries, and the 16th Field Artillery Battalion into D, and E Batteries.

On 9 february 1999, 12th Field Artillery Battalion relocated to brgy Nasapian, Carmen, Cotabato, where it was collocated with 602nd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division. 14th Field Artillery Battalion formally established its headquarters on 25 march 1999 at brgy Kalandagan, Tacurong city and was collocated with the Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, Division Field Artillery Regiment, 6th Infantry Division. The Headquarters of the 16th Field Artillery Battalion was inactivated and its 2 batteries were placed under the direct control of the Division Artillery Regiment, 6th Infantry Division.

In addition to the regular in-service training conducted by the unit, the first class of the Artillery Repair and Maintenance Training graduated in December 1999. The training was considered to be one of a kind in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as it has never been conducted in any AFP training institution. At the time it had only been offered to members of the AFP when sent for training abroad. By 2005 5 classes had graduated from the training program, one of a number of training firsts for the Division Artillery Regiment, 6th Infantry Division.

In early 2000, the Regiment organized a provisional battery designated as I Battery, which was deployed to Jolo, Sulu in order to provide fire support to troops operating against the Abu Sayyaf Group. However, due to geographical proximity and for effective administration and operational control, I Battery was absorbed by 9th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division on 1 March 2000.

After a change of command on 13 June 2000 minor organizational changes were made. The 14th Field Artillery Battalion's 3 line batteries were redesignated as D, E, and F Batteries, while the batteries of the 16th Field Artillery Battalion were redesignated as G and H Batteries. The 12th Field Artillery Battery and 16th Field Artillery Battery also exchanged their A and G Batteries respectively. The swapped units retained the designation of the previous unit. These adjustments were done in order to conform with the deployment of line battalions and batteries of the Division Artillery Regiment at the time, vis-à-vis their respective AOR's, as well as to minimize troop and howitzer movement.

The Division Artillery Regiment's activation participated in numerous major and minor combat operations, providing fire support to the different organic units and those under the operational control of the 6th infantry Division. Among these operations were the successful clearing of the Narciso Ramos Highway and capture of almost all major and minor MILF camps in the AOR during 2000. The foremost of these was Camp Abubakar, believed to have been the MILF's biggest base camp at the time, as well as their general headquarters. These operations also resulted in the neutralization of an undetermined number of MILF rebels, most of which were caused by artillery fires. Manpower issues also required elements of the Division Artillery Regiment to participate in intelligence operations conducted by the 6th Infantry Division. Late 2000 was significant for the Regiment as it facilitated the surrender of 15 MILF rebels and recovered various weapons. This was a notable accomplishment for the Regiment as this was beyond the assigned mission of the unit.

The success of operations against the MILF suggested that 2001 would contain fewer military actions, but this was not to be the case. The Division Artillery Regiment continued actions against the MILF in support of the 6th Infantry Division throughout 2001. The 16th Field Artillery Battalion was deployed to brgy Pigkalagan, Sultan kudarat, Maguindanao on 1 April 2001, collocated with 603rd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division.

On 16 July 2002, the Division Artillery Regiment was redeployed at brgy Pigkalagan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, while its 3 field artillery battalions remained at their previous locations in direct support of the 6th Infantry Division's 3 tactical infantry brigades. Elements of the Division Artillery Regiment also supported the 301st Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, located at Kalandagan, Tacurong City and the 701st Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Division located at Tuburan, Mawab, Comval Province.

In 2004 the Regiment started to conduct the Military Occupational Specialty phase of the Field Artillery NCO Basic Course at its Headquarters. By 2005 a total of 4 trainings had been conducted by the Regiment. This was a first for the unit since it was previously conducted at 6th ATG. Another first was the Artillery Crews Refresher Training CTW Combat Proficiency Test, wherein artillery personnel from different battalions in Luzon and Visayas were retrained and deployed to different firebases for 6 months in order for them to gain combat experience in real fire support operations. With such developments, plans were underway for the creation of an extension school for the artillery career and specialization courses under the supervision of the Division Artillery Regiment.

As part of the Regiment's plan to further develop itself into a more effective unit, several projects were being undertaken as of 2005. These included the construction of officer's and enlisted quarters, ammunition dumps, and administrative buildings for the different units under the Division Artillery Regiment. The Regiment's battalions had all taken similar efforts at their respective camps with the construction and renovation of base facilities in order to have a more efficient and effective work output and keep troop morale high.