Air Defense Artillery Online 11 March 2009
March 6, 2009—Vehicles and equipment belonging to the 5-52 ADA Battalion are unloaded from a C-5 Galaxy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis).
380th Air Expeditionary Wing  Welcomes Fort Bliss Patriot Soldiers
by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis
380th Air Expeditionary Wing / Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA—"One Team...One Fight!," the motto of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing has new meaning with the arrival of Patriot missile Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas. Close to 200 soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery, and several C-5 Galaxy's loaded with vehicles and equipment landed throughout the last few days signifying the Army had arrived.

     The Army unit will be incorporated into the 380th AEW's mission in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
A Soldier from the 5-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion stands on the flightline of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing as a KC-10 taxis in, Mar 5. Close to 200 Soldiers and several C-5 Galaxy's loaded with vehicles and equipment landed throughout the last few days as part of the first Patriot battery mission for the wing, improving air defense capability.
    
     "The support that has been provided by the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing has been phenomenal. Not only [enabling] us to execute our mission of providing theatre Air Missile Defense, but we also have [the ability] to sustain it," said Lt. Col. Greg Brady, the 5-52 ADA battalion commander.

     The arrival of the Patriot battery brings a new capability to the wing. The addition of the first Patriot battery mission improves air defense capability in addition to the refueling and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission already in place.

     "The global war on terrorism has been a joint effort all along. And this is just [one] more demonstration where the Air Force and the Army are able to work together to protect very critical assets," said Lt. Col. Frederick Thaden, 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander. "At the same time [we] learn each other's mission and accomplish strategic objectives together in a joint environment."

Brig. Gen. H.D. Polumbo Jr., 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, commander, welcomes Army soldiers from the 5-52 Air Defense Artillery, Mar 6, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis).

 

     With the Army being incorporated into the 380th AEW's mission, combined with the Navy Global Hawk mission recently added, the 380th lives up to its motto "One Team...One Fight!" creating a joint base environment.