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ADA ONLINE — FEBRUARY 2013
Kathleen M. Doyle ~ Editor-in-Chief

We look forward to publicly recognizing great Air Defense Artillery units and Soldiers, and are anxious to publish your submissions.  To assist you in getting started, or just to help you over the speed bumps, we have developed the ADA Online ~ Writers' and Photographers' Guide to assist you.

To access the guide ...

To submit articles, photos or to contact the editor ...

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Click on the hyperlinked logo below to access the desired websites.

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RAYTHEON’S JLENS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES SERIES OF TESTS
(with video)
(AL.com/ 19 February 2013)
Article by Leada Gore

The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, known as JLENS, has completed a series of tests showing its capability to detect and track tactical ballistic missile surrogates.

At tests held at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the Raytheon-manufactured JLENS detected and tracked four ballistic missile surrogates during the boost phase. The JLENS X-Band radar tracked two rockets fired in quick succession and two individually fired ballistic missile surrogates. The missiles flew in a path similar to ones enemy tactical ballistic missiles might fly in combat situations.

Raytheon officials said the tests met all objectives.

In separate tests, JLENS demonstrated additional capabilities when it enabled Patriot and Standard Missile-6 intercepts of cruise missile surrogates. JLENS also completed two developmental tests showing the ability to stay aloft for long durations.
To read the complete article ...                         To see the video ...
                                           

PATRIOT MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM KEEPS WATCH ON SYRIA - VIDEO
(Youtube.com/17 February 2013)

GAZIANTEP, Turkey – Six batteries of U.S. made, but NATO-backed, missile defense systems have been set up in southeastern Turkey to protect against aerial attacks from war-torn Syria. Since January, U.S. Soldiers are maintaining Patriot Missiles stationed at a Turkish military base outside Gaziantep. The city is 50 kilometers from Syria, where an increasingly bloody civil war has killed at least 70,000 people.Turkey's government asked NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) for the missiles.

The two U.S. missile batteries here are staffed by 400 soldiers. Each battery includes six launchers carrying a total of 48 missiles. Germany and the Netherlands each have sent two similar batteries to Turkey.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Charles Branson said when the system's radar detects a potential threat, the information is sent to NATO commanders. In seconds, they make the decision on whether to respond. NATO says the missiles are for defensive purposes only. So far, none has been fired.

Battery Commander Capt. Leslie Dembeck said the team nevertheless must still keep up its skills. "It does give us the option to go into a training phase where we can do a simulation scenario where we would interact with the threats," said Dembeck.

Although team members are far from home, they are committed to the mission, said 1st Lt. Mary Jocelyn.

To see the video …

69th ADA BRIGADE DINING FACILITY AWARDED FOR EDUCATION EXCELLENCE
Article and photo by Sgt. Maria L. Kappell, 69th ADA Brigade Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas—The Patriot Inn Dining Facility was presented with the Hood Hero Award for unit education excellence at Club Hood on 12 February 2013. The Hood Hero Award ceremony is held quarterly to honor exceptional individuals who strive to make Fort Hood, known as the “The Great Place,” a great home for Soldiers and their Families, said the Deputy Commanding General of III Corps Brig. Gen. James Richardson. All of the awardees at the ceremony demonstrate care and commitment to those who serve, whether they are military or civilian, Richardson added. To read the complete article ...

AIR DEFENSE ARTILERY MUSEUM EXPANDS HOURS

FORT SILL, Okla. — Curator Jonathan Bernstein says the Air Defense Artillery Museum has expanded its hours and is now open four days a week. The Air Defense Artillery (ADA) artifacts moved to Fort Sill, Okla., from Fort Bliss, Texas, three years ago, and have been housed in a facility with sporadic and limited viewing hours. Now, the museum has a new temporary home in a historic hangar built in 1932 at Henry Post Army Airfield on Gruber Road, Fort Sill. The new hours of operation and days are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Upon entering Key Gate, continue driving west on Sheridan Road, turn left at Geronimo Road, and proceed south until you reach the control tower. The museum is in the hangar immediately east of the control tower.

 The mission of the museum is to preserve the history of the Army and the Air Defense Artillery branch. A permanent site for the museum is being developed at Fort Sill.
Group tours are available, to arrange one call (580) 442-0424 or email jonathan.a.bernstein.civ@mail.mil .

 TRADOC COMMANDER'S PRESIDENTS DAY HOLIDAY SAFETY MESSAGE

 

DRAGONS STAY ON THE GRID
Article and photo by Spc. Shawn Denham, 35th ADA Brigade Public Affairs Office

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – Communications is the vital lifeline during combat. Without communications the Army would lose its situational awareness and ability to operate effectively on the battlefield. The 35th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade, assisted by Company A, 304th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB) located at Camp Humphreys, conducted a joint network node (JNN) field exercise at Osan Air Base, on 5 through 8 February 2013. The exercise focused on routing the Dragon Brigade's entire telecommunications activities through a satellite dish. To read more ...

THE 3D BATTALION, 6TH AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY’S “BRUISER NATION” CONDUCTS THE FIRST COMBINED EVALUATION EXERCISE WITH U.S. AND UAE PATRIOT STUDENTS
Article by 1 Lt. Ryan Zimmerman, B/3-6 ADA’s Executive Officer

FORT SILL, Okla. – Building partnership capacity is an integral part of reinforcing the commitment and resolve of establishing lasting relationships with our international partners.  Recently, the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE), U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School’s (USAADASCH’s) 3d Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery (3-6 ADA) Patriot training battalion planned and executed the first combined capstone exercise (CAPEX) with U.S. and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Soldiers. The CAPEX is the culminating certification exercise for Soldiers being trained and awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 14T, Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer. To read more about the CAPEX and the graduation ...

LIVE FIRE IN KUWAIT
Article by Capt. Michael Savageau, 4-3 ADA, 31st ADA Brigade

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait- Soldiers of the 4th Battalion 3rd Air Defense Artillery (4-3 ADA) Regiment, the “I Strike” battalion, conducted a remote live-fire exercise this month with their Kuwaiti host nation partners.

When the Kuwaiti Military conducts a live fire-exercise they have the option of requesting U.S. support – and they did.  For the I Strike Soldiers, this was a unique opportunity to interact with their Kuwaiti counterparts and continue to develop and foster an enduring partnership.
To read the complete article ...

SILL SOLDIERS EARN PRAISE IN TURKEY
(Lawton Constitution/6 February 2013)
Article by Cheryl Pellerin

GAZIANTEP, TURKEY -- On his first official visit to Turkey as Deputy Defense Secretary, Ashton B. Carter traveled to Gaziantep near the Syrian border to check out the first of two U.S. Patriot missile batteries to be there. At the missile launch site, Carter spoke with about 18 soldiers who operate the site, and then spoke with 80 more in a small theater near the site. They’re assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, home based at Fort Sill, Okla.

“I’m so pleased that two days ago you rolled all the way in from Incirlik with all this fantastic equipment,” Carter told the troops. “Your country is watching and the world is watching and what they see is this magnificent performance,” he added. “The good people of Gaziantep see it and the good people of Turkey see it and the good people of the Middle East see it and your country sees it. And you know what? The bad guys see it too. When you place your next call," the deputy secretary said, "whether it's to a spouse or your mom and dad, kids, if you have them, ... tell them that you were thanked today by the leadership of your department, the leadership of your country, for what you're doing here."  To read the complete article ...

69TH ADA BRIGADE ACCEPTS TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY
Article and photos by Capt. Steven Modugno, 69th ADA Brigade Public Affairs Officer

SOUTHWEST ASIA—The 69th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade and the 11th ADA Brigade held a Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony Friday, 1 February 2013. The 11th ADA Brigade relinquished authority for the ground-based air and missile defense (AMD) mission within the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility to the 69^th ADA Brigade, also known as the  “Lightning Brigade.”

The indoor ceremony was attended by many senior-level officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) from throughout the joint fires community including the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Third Army/U.S. Army Forces, Central Command (ARCENT), Maj. Gen. Gary Cheek, and the Commanding General of the 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), Brig. Gen. James H. Dickinson. 

The TOA ceremony is a longstanding Army tradition that signifies a new unit taking over full responsibility for a mission from the previous unit.  The Col. Randall A. McIntire, the 69th ADA Brigade Commander, Col. Randall A. McIntire, shared his belief that the Soldiers taking over were ready to “Guard the Skies”.

As the 69th ADA Brigade Colors were uncased, symbolic of the mission being shouldered by the new unit, Col. McIntire said, “We have a proud legacy of service, sacrifice, and duty.  We will only add to that during this deployment.”

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Air Defense Artillery and Army song.  Both were sung with vitality and with enthusiasm.

After a long deployment, the 11th ADA Brigade is heading home.

As for the 69th ADA Brigade, they stand ready to face the future challenges heading in their direction.

HHB, 32D AAMDC KICKS OFF “SISTERS-IN-ARMS” PROGRAM
Article by Staff Sgt. Brandon Little, 32d AAMDC Public Affairs

FORT BLISS, Texas – Sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination are just some of the injustices that women in the military have faced for decades. Over the years, many women were able to persevere through these adversities to reach ranks and positions that paved the way for others to succeed; however, a great number of women were never afforded the opportunity to reach their full potential due to toxic working environments.

The military has tried to combat this through providing various training programs and other resources; one recently introduced program is geared toward helping enhance the avenues of mentorship and communication from senior female officers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) to junior female officers and Soldiers.

Dozens of Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) came together to express their thoughts and expectations for the battery’s Sisters-in-Arms (SIA) Program during a closed door forum held on 1 February 2013. To read the complete article ...

ENDING THE DIRECT GROUND COMBAT EXCLUSION RULE FOR FEMALE SOLDIERS

THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING FORWARD-STATIONED
Article and photos by 1st Lt. Sam Williams, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery

The 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery (1-1 ADA) located in Okinawa, Japan, has been a forward-stationed Patriot Battalion since late 2006. Being forward-stationed has allowed the Soldiers and Officers of the Battalion many unique opportunities and skill-sets their (Continental/Contiguous United States) CONUS counterparts do not.  The Battalion is leading the “Fires World” through joint and bilateral operations in the Pacific region. Furthermore, the existence of real air and missile defense (AMD) threats in the region mandates a higher operating/operations tempo (OPTEMPO) as well as, a more intense dedication to maintenance. ** One benefit of being forward-stationed is the ability to participate in joint and bilateral operations in the region.
To read more and view another photo …
 

FAMILIES PREPARE FOR RETURN OF IMPERIAL BRIGADE
Article by Staff Sgt. Brandon Little, 32d AAMDC Public Affairs Office

FORT BLISS, Texas – For many units, redeployment can be as stressful as preparing to deploy when it comes to training replacements, shipping equipment and Soldier readiness; so trying to keep family members informed about changes could prove to be difficult.

However, the services of a family readiness group (FRG) and a family readiness support assistant (FRSA) can be useful to stabilize the home front, provide information to families, and even organize fun family events during these nerve-racking instances. ** Dozens of family members and friends of deployed Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 11th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade, attended a unique FRG meeting here on 24 January 2013, to help them through this upcoming redeployment.
To read more and view more photos …

US SETTING UP PATRIOT MISSILES NEAR TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER
(Stars and Stripes/31 January 2013)
Article by John Vandiver, with photos by Michael Abrams, both of the Stars and Stripes

IN THE NEWS

JLENS DEMONSTRATES TACTICAL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES
(SEAPOWER/19 February 2013)
Article by Richard G. Burgess, Managing Editor

ARLINGTON, Va. – A Raytheon-built aerostat-mounted radar system has successfully demonstrated an ability to track surrogate tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) during their ascent phase. The Joint Land-Attack Cruise-Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) — a system including a pair of aerotstatic balloons bearing radar systems — tracked four missiles during a two-day test period in December at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., said Mark Rose, JLENS program director for Raytheon, during a 19 February 2013 conference call with reporters.
(To read the full article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

BLIMPS TO BOLSTER WASHINGTON’S AIR SHIELD IN TEST
(The Washington Post/11 February 2013)
Article by Jim Wolf, Reuters

A pair of big, blimp-like crafts, moored to the ground and flying as high as 10,000 feet, are to be added to a high-tech shield designed to protect Washington D.C. from air attack, at least for a while. The bulbous, helium-filled aerostats known as Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, or JLENS — each is 243 feet long, more than three-quarters the length of a football field — are to be stitched into existing defenses as part of a test of new technology ordered by the Defense Department.
(To read the complete article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

BAE SYSTEM'S SEEKER PERFORMS SUCCESSFULLY IN HISTORIC INTEGRATED LIVE-FIRE MISSILE DEFENSE TEST
(Newsroom/7 February2013)
Issued by Karen Spiller, BAE Systems

NASHUA, New Hampshire — BAE Systems’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) infrared imaging seeker successfully engaged a medium-range ballistic missile target recently in the largest, most complex missile defense test in U.S. history. The THAAD weapon system acquired a medium-range missile that was launched from a C-17 aircraft during the 2012 test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency and Lockheed Martin, the THAAD prime contractor and systems integrator. With this test, BAE Systems’ THAAD seeker has now successfully engaged short- and medium-range ballistic missile targets.
(To read the entire article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

PENTAGON TO EXTEND CERTAIN BENEFITS TO SAME-SEX SPOUSES
(National Security/5 February 2013)
Article by Ernesto Londono

The Pentagon has decided to extend new benefits to the spouses of gay personnel, according to officials and people notified about the decision, responding to the increasingly vocal appeals of same-sex couples in the military.

The new benefits may include housing privileges, access to base recreational facilities and joint duty assignments for uniformed couples, but legal experts say the Pentagon is unlikely to find a way to offer health-care coverage and more than 100 other spousal benefits while the Defense of Marriage Act — which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman — remains in effect.

Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the department has been conducting a “deliberative and comprehensive review of the possibility of extending eligibility for benefits, when legally permitted, to same-sex domestic partners.” She noted that the Defense Department already grants some benefits to same-sex spouses, mainly relating to troop deaths and other emergencies.
(To read the entire article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

U.S. ACTIVATES PATRIOT MISSILES ON TURKEY BORDER
(Reuters/5 February 2013)   VIDEO
The U.S. military says the first of two missile batteries it has deployed along Turkey's border with Syria is now operational. Lindsey Parietti reports. (To view the video, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

US PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERY IN TURKEY COMES UNDER NATO COMMAND
(Stars and Stripes/5 February 2013)
Article by John Vandiver

STUTTGART, Germany — A U.S. Patriot missile battery now up and running near Turkey’s border with Syria fell under NATO command and control Tuesday, bringing the alliance’s effort to bolster Turkish air defenses one step closer to becoming fully operational, U.S. military officials said. Currently, five of six Patriot batteries belonging to Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S. are operating in Turkey as part of an effort to protect Turkish airspace from a potential missile strike from neighboring Syria.
(To read the complete article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

FIRST U.S. PATRIOT BATTERY GOES LIVE IN TURKEY
(Global Security Newswire/5 February 2013)
Article by Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON -- NATO on Tuesday announced that the first of two Patriot anti-missile units deployed by the United States is now live in Turkey, where it is participating in a broader alliance effort to safeguard the nation from feared missile strikes by neighboring Syria.

"Earlier this morning we activated the first of our two Patriot batteries to help protect the more than one and a half million people living in and around Gaziantep city," 10th U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense Command Col. Steve Richmond said in released comments. The sixth and final Patriot unit is expected to begin operating no later than the middle of February, he said.
(To read more, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

CARTER VISITS TURKISH DEFENSE LEADERS, US PATRIOT BATTERY TROOPS
(Department of Defense/4 February 2013)
 Article by Cheryl Pellerin

ANKARA, Turkey – On his first official visit to this prosperous capital as deputy defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter spent the day with Turkish defense leaders, then traveled southeast to Gaziantep near the Syrian border to examine the first of two U.S Patriot misile batteries.
(To read the entire article and see photos, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM MEADS PROGRAM WOULD CAUSE 'ECONOMIC DAMAGE:' DEFENSE MINISTERS
(Defense Daily/5 February 2013) Login required.
Article by Ann Roosevelt, Defense Daily

Defense Ministers from Germany and Italy sent a strongly worded letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressing their “grave concerns” about U.S. withdrawal from the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program. The president has signed U.S. defense-authorization act that prohibits funding MEADS. The U.S. defense-appropriations bill still awaits Congressional action.

While thanking Panetta for supporting the program, they letter said: “If the U.S. does not fulfill its funding commitment for 2013, Germany and Italy would need to interpret this as a unilateral withdrawal,” the letter said. Under the Memorandum of Agreement among the three companies, Germany and Italy “expect formal notification of the US intent to withdraw from the MoU (while funding up to the effective date of the withdrawal).”

The ministers also pointed out wider implications of such a U.S. withdrawal: the United States would appear to be an unreliable NATO member, and a withdrawal would set a bad precedent for future international cooperative programs. One result would be to reconsider multilateral cooperation in the context of NATO’s SMART Defense initiative.
(To read the complete article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

GERMANY, ITALY PROTEST AT U.S. AXING OF MISSILE DEFENSE FUNDING
(Reuters/2 February 2013)
Reporting by Sabine Siebold, writing by Adrian Croft; Editing by Jason Webb

MUNICH - Germany and Italy have told the United States they expect it to fulfill its obligations after the U.S. Congress blocked funding for a missile defense program involving the three countries, Germany said on Saturday.

A defense bill passed by Congress in December prohibited a final U.S. payment of $400.9 million for development of the Medium Extended Air and Missile Defense System, known as MEADS, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin with partners in Italy and Germany. U.S. lawmakers said Washington has no plans to produce the system.

"I expect the United States to stick to their word and fulfill the MEADS contract," German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters at the Munich security conference.

He said that, together with the Italian defense minister, he had sent a "pretty tough" letter to U.S. authorities driving this point home.
(To read the entire article, click on the hyperlinked title above.)

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