FACEBOOK LINKS
Note: The US Army Air Defense Artillery branch is not responsible for the management of or content of these sites.

PHOTOGRAPHS

AVENGER Photos

PATRIOT Photos

SLAMRAAM Photos

STINGER Photos

UPCOMING EVENTS

13th ANNUAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY (AUSA) TACTICAL MISSILES CONFERENCE
WHEN: 25 & 26 April 2011
WHERE: Huntsville, Alabama
Mark your calendar and keep checking back for updates.
More information and updates will be posted to the official website at  www.ausaredstone.org

2011 UNITED STATES ARMY FIRES SYMPOSIUM
WHEN: 16 - 20 May 2011
WHERE: Cameron University Campus, Lawton, Oklahoma
HOST:  Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE), Fort Sill, Oklahoma
WHAT: Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery/Air and Missile Defense Symposium /Conference
Each branch, as well as private industry vendors will have a marketing booth and
static displays on site.
Mark your calendar and keep checking back for updates.

Persian Gulf War: 20 Years Later

In January 1991, Operation Desert Storm began in earnest. The mission was to drive Iraqi military forces out of Kuwait. Deployed Patriot missile battalions (batteries) were used to intercept Iraqi SCUD missiles.

To revisit the events of the Persian Gulf War, and Air Defense Artillery's contribution, join NPR’s 20^th anniversary special by clicking on the Southwest Asia Service Medal to the left.

Statement on Department Budget and Efficiencies

As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates,
The Pentagon, Thursday, January 06, 2011

     Today, I am announcing a number of decisions and measures that mark the next major step in this Department’s reform agenda.

     First, I will provide an update on our efforts – within the military services, and in the Department as a whole – to generate efficiency savings by reducing overhead costs, improving business practices, or culling excess or troubled programs.

     Second, I’ll summarize the substantial investments that the military departments will be able to make in high priority capabilities and programs –investments made possible by the savings identified by the service leadership.

     And third, I will describe how these reform efforts – if followed through to completion – will make it possible to protect the U.S. military’s size, reach and fighting strength despite a declining rate of growth – and eventual flattening – of the defense budget over the next five years.

To read the statement in its entirety click on the DoD Symbol at the top of this entry.

Gates Recommends Dempsey as Next Army Chief of Staff

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Washington, January 6, 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended to President Barack Obama that he nominate Army General Martin E. Dempsey to be the next Army Chief of Staff.
General Dempsey is currently the Commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

To read more of this release click on the title above.To read more on General Dempsey click on his photo to the right.
(U.S. Army photo)

Regimental Command Sergeant Major
Shares ‘Proudest Moment’
with Soldiers

Article and photos by Specialist Harmony Pelletier

SOUTHWEST ASIA – In December 2010, while in country, the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regimental Command Sergeant Major (CSM), James T. Carr Sr.,  made it his personal goal to visit deployed Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery (3-2 ADA) Regiment, 31st ADA Brigade.  He divided his time  between the two separate task force locations housing 3-2 ADA Soldiers in the region.

While there, he toured each site and participated in 3-2 ADA’s Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Corps induction ceremonies.

(To read the complete article click here or on either photo.)


Also see "ADA command sergeant major visits AOR" in the
Fort Sill Cannoneer/Lawton Constitution (20 Jan 2011, page 5A.)

Command and staff members of the 2^nd Battalion, 44^th

General David Petraeus Visits Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) Headquarters
By Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Nguyen

Kabul, Afghanistan – General David Petraeus the International Security Assistance Force-United Nations (ISAF-UN) and U.S. Forces-Army (USFOR-A) Commander, closed out his visit to the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) headquarters  by posing for a photograph with the 2^nd Battalion, 44^th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (2-44 ADA) command staff.

ANCOP is a two-star level paramilitary police organization and national police force responsible for providing civil order presence patrols, preventing violent public incidents, and providing crisis and anti-terror responses in urban and metropolitan environments. The ANCOP headquarters has four brigades (soon expanding to five brigades) located throughout Afghanistan. In the counter-insurgency fight, ANCOP is primarily employed in the “Hold” phase of “Clear, Hold, Build” counterinsurgency operations detailed in Field Manual 3-24, Counterinsurgency.

Along with U.S. Air Force and French counterparts, 2-44 ADA individuals serve as mentors to personnel assigned to the ANCOP headquarters. These air defenders are tasked with the responsibilities of developing policies, processes and procedures; implementing the force generation cycle; and training Afghan Coalition members to plan, coordinate and execute their own operations.

General Petraeus provided remarks during ANCOP’s first ever Commander’s Conference in Kabul, which focused on leadership development for ANCOP brigade commanders and command sergeants major.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Nguyen is the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment,
108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The Air Defense Artillery Branch
and
The Air Defense Artillery Association
Bid Farewell to the
"Duchess"
On Her Retirement

          Although Artillerymen look to our patron, Saint Barbara, to watch over us and shield us from harm, for decades there has been a more earthly lady, Mrs. Edith G. Fanning, who has taken air defenders by the hand and steered them in the right direction. Since Saint Barbara is undeniably the First Lady of Air Defense Artillery (ADA) and Ms. Genevieve Swick was unofficially named the second, perhaps a most fitting title for Mrs. Fanning would be the “Duchess” of ADA. Mrs. Fanning, or Edith as she would insist you call her, has devoted her class, grace, experience and knowledge to members of the ADA community for decades.
(To read the complete tribute click on the photo or title.)

Command and Control  (C2) Systems Integrator Graduation

On Tuesday, 14 December 2010, the United States Army Air Defense Artillery School hosted a 140A Warrant Officer Basic Course graduation for Class 18-10. The Primary Instructor was Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Promotable (P) James W. Kurth with auxiliary instructors CW4 Mitchell C. Brown and CW2 (P) Jacob F. Moore. Congratulations to the Honor Graduate Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Christopher Willoughby. The Guest Speaker was CW4 David V. Jones the Proponent Warrant Officer (WO) assigned to the Office, Chief of Air Defense Artillery (OCADA), United States Army Air Defense Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

(To read the complete article click here or on the title.)

Command Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C⁴I)
Enhanced System Operator Class Graduation

     On 23 November 2010, the United States Army Air Defense Artillery School hosted a combined Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 14J10, Command Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C⁴I) Enhanced System Operator, graduation for Classes 017-10, 518-10 and 525-10 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Special congratulations and recognition to the Distinguished Honor Graduate, Private David E. Burke Jr. from Class 017-10; and Honor Graduates Specialist Jeremy H Horn from Class 017-10 and Private First Class Matthew Owens from Class 518-10.

The Guest Speaker was Sergeant Major (SGM) Blake E. Brimhall the Air Defense Artillery Proponent SGM, assigned to the Office, Chief of Air Defense Artillery (OCADA).

Special thanks to the instructors, Staff Sergeant Michael E. Dennis, Sergeant Kimberly R. Curenton and Mr. Jeffery Staley for preparing our Soldiers for their place in ADA. Congratulations to all the graduates.