|
|
ADA ONLINE
July 2011
(To hear the ADA March click on the hyperlinked title
above.
Also, to ensure you are viewing the most updated
version, please refresh the page.)
Kathleen M. Doyle, Editor-in-Chief |
 We
look forward to publicly recognizing great ADA units and
Soldiers
and are anxious to publish your submissions! To assist
you in getting started, or help you over the speed
bumps, we have developed the
ADA Online ~ Writer's & Photographer's Guide to
assist you.
To access the guide, click here or on on the scroll and
quill to the left.
To submit articles/photos or contact ADA Online click
here!
|
  3rd
BATTALION, 2nd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY REGIMENT,
31st AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY BRIGADE
CHANGE OF COMMAND
By Kathleen M. Doyle
(Posted 29 July 2011)
Today (29 July 2011), in the early morning heat, on the grounds of the Fort
Sill, Oklahoma, Polo Field, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
Shana E. Peck relinquished command of the 3rd Battalion,
2nd Air Defense Artillery (3-2 ADA) Regiment to LTC
Charles E. Branson.
LTC Branson comes to 3-2 ADA from the Human Resources
Command (HRC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he served as
the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Branch Chief. LTC
Branson brings with him the knowledge and expertise of
staffing the branch for success, as well as, being a
seasoned veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a leader
he let actions speak louder than words and was awarded
the Silver Star for actions at Objective Jenkins during
the initial invasion of Iraq. We are confident he
will live up to the motto "Lethal Strike!"
LTC Peck will continue to represent ADA in her new
assignment with the Combined Arms Center as a Senior
Instructor at Hurlburt Air Field, Florida. We wish her
well and continued success.
|
|
CEREMONY HONORS RETIRING 32d AAMDC
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR AND WELCOMES THE NEW
By Staff
Sergeant Brandon Little
Photographs by Specialist Jacoby Davis
(Posted 29 July 2011)
The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC)
held a Change‐of‐Responsibility
Ceremony on 26 July 2011, to farewell the unit’s
outgoing Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Richard S. Clem
and welcome the incoming senior enlisted advisor for the
command, CSM James N. Ross at Memorial Circle on Fort
Bliss, Texas.
(To read the complete article and
see more photographs,
click on the linked photo above.)
|
  .jpg)
OFFICE
OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF, ARMY
GENERAL OFFICER ANNOUNCEMENT
Dated: 27 July 2011
(Posted 27 July 2011)
The
Secretary of Defense, Leon E. Panetta, announced today
that the President of the United States has made the
following nominations:
Army Brigadier
General Heidi V. Brown has been nominated for
appointment to the rank of Major General. Brigadier
General Brown is currently serving as the Director of
Integration, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8,
U.S. Army Washington, DC.
Army
Brigadier General Roger F. Mathews
has been
nominated for appointment to the rank of Major General.
Brigadier General Mathews is currently serving as
the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort
Shafter, Hawaii.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE AIR DEFENSE COMMUNITY!
|
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND (HRC) NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 3 ~ SUMMER 2011
(Posted 27 July 2011)
Did you know that the Air Defense
Artillery (ADA) Branch Managers at the Human Resources
Command (HRC) have a newsletter?
They do, and it's filled with information critical to a
successful career as an ADA officer. The career managers
offer you proven advice to assist you with minor and
major career decisions.
These tools are at your finger tips and just a mouse
click away.
You can access the latest edition right here by clicking
on the link embedded in the photograph below.
We are working to establish a dedicated hyperlink, that
will be accessible from a link the left column of ADA
Online so you can easily access future and past issues
... keep checking back with us!
Human Resources
Command's (HRC) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Branch,
Officer Personnel Management Division (OPMD) managers
pose for a farewell photo outside the Lieutenant General
Timothy J. Maude Complex at the Human Resources Command
Center of Excellence (HRCoE), Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Standing on the back row, from left to right:
Miss Carol Gallaway, Major (MAJ) Michelle J. Bravo,
Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Branson, MAJ(P) John L. Dawber, Chief Warrant Four (CW4) Andrew Newbrough and
Mister David Hairston. Kneeling on the bottom row, left
to right: Captain (CPT) Eric Soler, CPT Rosanna
Clemente and CPT Darius Randolph. (LTC Branson, MAJ
Bravo and CPT Randolph have all moved on to new
assignments.)
|
FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
WELCOMES
NEW CHIEF OF STAFF
COLONEL BRIAN P. DUNN
By Kathleen M. Doyle and
photographs by James W. Wall Jr.
(Posted 26 July 2011)
 
(Above)
Colonel (COL) Brian P. Dunn becomes the Chief of Staff
for the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE) at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, on 26 July 2006. (Lower
left) 26 July 2011 - COL Dunn and Major
General David D. Halverson stand at attention during the
Reveille Ceremony in COL Dunn's honor as the new Chief
of Staff of the FCoE. (Lower right) Colonel Dunn talks
with Mr. Bill Burgess, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of
the Army, prior to the Reveille Ceremony welcoming him
to his new position as the Chief of Staff of the Fires
Center of Excellence (FCoE).
Fort Sill, OK -
At 0900 this morning (26 July 2011) Soldiers, family and
friends gathered in front of McNair Hall, to witness the official assumption of
position/responsibility of the newest Fires Center of
Excellence (FCoE) Chief of Staff. Colonel (COL) Brian P. Dunn
and his family were welcomed amid cannon fire, band
music and congratulations from well wishers at a Reveille Ceremony in his honor.
The Dunn's recently returned from the Republic of Korea
where he was the Commander of the 35th Air Defense
Artillery (ADA) Brigade.
Colonel Dunn is filling the position previously held by
COL Daniel L. Karbler the newest Commandant of the U.S.
Army Air Defense Artillery School.
Major General David D. Halverson the Commanding General
of the FCoE jokingly quipped with Colonel Dunn about
offering him an easy position, "... all you have to do
Brian, is control a bunch of Colonels, take care of the
budget and me!"
Upon taking the podium, Colonel Dunn remarked that he
and his wife, along with his "overly excited boys," have
been embraced by the Fort Sill and Lawton community and
already feel like part of the family.
(Above) A Father's Work is
Never Dunn - COL Dunn seats his sons prior to the start
of the Reveille Ceremony in his honor on 26 July 2011.
(Below) Mrs. Jennifer Dunn and sons look on proudly as
COL Dunn addresses the crowd from the podium.
|
USARPAC HONORS DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL WITH FLYING “V”
CEREMONY
By Cashmere Jefferson
(Posted 20 July 2011)
Brigadier General (BG) Jeffery L. Underhill,
Commander, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command
(AAMDC) hosted a Flying “V” ceremony on 18 July 2011, to
honor and welcome BG Roger F. Mathews, Deputy Commanding
General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) on 18 July 2011 at
Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
The Flying “V” Ceremony traditionally welcomes or honors senior Army
officials when they assume duties or depart from an Army
command and refers to the way the colors are posted
during the ceremony, which is V-shaped.
“Leading the largest service component in the Army is no
easy task; however, we are excited to have a general
officer of your caliber in this command,” said
Underhill. “We are looking forward to everything that
USARPAC is poised to do and accomplish during your time
here.”
Brigadier General Roger F. Mathews (left)
and Brigadier General Jeffery L. Underhill address the
audience at the Flying "V" Ceremony on 18 July 2011 at
Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Happy to be back in the ranks of USARPAC,
Mathews said he is honored to be serving and working
with the Soldiers, Civilians, Families and other
military services.
“To USARPAC, you have an absolutely outstanding
reputation and I am proud to provide whatever leadership
and support I can provide to you,” said Mathews. “I will
dedicate 100 percent of my commitment to ensure our
Soldiers, Families and Civilians have the support that
they need.”
General Mathews, whose recent assignment was Commandant
of the U.S. Army Air Defense School, U.S. Army Fires
Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, became the
Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific on 29
May.
(To read the complete article click on the title
above.)
|
|
 PAIR
OF ARTILLERY PIECES ARRIVE AT FORT SILL MUSEUM
(Lawton Constitution/07-14-2011)
(Posted 15 July 2011)
The M7 Bradley Fire Support Vehicle (BFIST) and the M6
Linebacker, also known as the Bradley Stinger Fighting
Vehicle (BSFV), rolled into Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
yesterday (13 July 2011).
(To find out more about these specific pieces of history
and read author Mitch Meador's complete article
click
here or on the title above.)
|
 
(Top left) Specialist Johnathan P Woodfield from A
Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery (A/4-3
ADA) Regiment, 31st ADA Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
runs 2-miles during the physical fitness portion of the
competition on 28 June 2011 at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sergeant Normal Llamas) (Top right) Sergeant First Class Arron S. Barnes
from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st ADA
Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, completes pushups during
the physical fitness portion of the event at Veterans
Field, Fort Hood, Texas as part of the 2011 III Corps
NCO of the Year and Soldier of the Year Best Warrior
Competition on 28 June 2011. (U.S. Army photo by SPC
David Hauk)
SILL SOLDIER EARNS III CORPS HONORS
(Posted 14 July 2011)
The III Corps 2011 Best Warrior Noncommissioned Officer
(NCO) of the Year and Soldier of the Year honors both
went to Soldiers assigned to the 31st Air Defense
Artillery (ADA) Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Sergeant
First Class (SFC) Arron S. Barnes, a Patriot radar
technician (CMF 94), was selected as the III Corps NCO of
the Year and Specialist (SPC) Jonathan P. Woodfield,
assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd ADA (4-3 ADA)
Regiment, 31st ADA Brigade was chosen as the III Corps
Soldier of the Year.
The competition took place during the last week of June
at Fort Hood, Texas. The competitors, four NCOs and four
Soldiers, had been deemed the elite by their respective
installations and branches. The winners, SFC Barnes and
SPC Woodfield, will go on to compete in
the U.S. Army Forces Command Best Warrior Competition in
a few weeks.
(To find out what they had to do to win the
titles and to read Specialist Sharmain Burch's
complete article click
here, on the title
above or read it in the Fort Sill Cannoneer at
http://www.swoknews.com/main.asp?SectionID=22 .)
|
 Army
Tests Smartphones For Battle
(USA Today/07-14-2011)
(Posted 14 July 2011)
The
Army is experimenting with off-the-shelf smartphones
that are expected to assist Soldiers in combat to
receive real-time images of movements both hostile and
friendly troops.General Peter W. Chiarelli, Vice Chief
of Staff of the Army, said that the instant, relatively
cheap technology has shown great promise for Soldiers.
(To read the complete USA Today article by Tom Vanden
Brook, click
here or on the photo of General Chiarelli.)
|
SKYSTRIKER FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: 235
Years in the Making
By
Captain Cody E. Wellman
(Posted 29 July 2011)
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The
time was 2355 hours. Several hundred Soldiers and Airmen
were gathered in front of the Wing Headquarters
preparing for the upcoming Fourth of July festivities.
At 0000 hours, 4 July 2011, a female Airman, possessing
a voice that silenced an entire installation, sang
America the Beautiful. At 0001 hours, the
24-hour Base Olympics began, starting with a
10-kilometer run.
The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) organized an
Olympic-sized event to celebrate the country's 235th
birthday; the event would encompass a 24-hours period
and would include events such as a 10-Kilometer (10K)
Run Relay, 200-Meter (200m) Swim Relay, 1600-Meter (1600m)
Run Relay, a 40- and 50-Yard Dash, a Long Jump, Tug of
War, Bench Press/Strong Man Competition, and a Regatta
Boat Race. Also included in the day’s events were
single-elimination tournaments in dodge ball,
volleyball, and basketball.
(Click on the photograph (above) of Lieutenant
Colonel Richard Harrison, Commander of the 3rd
Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery (3-4 ADA), to read
the complete account of this victorious day for the
Soldiers of 3-4 ADA.)
|
|
 ONE
FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
(Literally)
(Posted 12 July 2011)
Article by Captain
William Gooding
There are few “firsts” left in this world for any one
individual to accomplish. You can break an existing
record with perseverance but to accomplish a first is
rare, especially for a woman.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to
receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, Annie
Londonderry was the first female to bicycle around the
world, Carrie Underwood was the first female to win the
AMC award twice and on 12 May 2011 Private First
Class (PFC) Janette Ellis became the first female in the
history of the world to jump the Stinger Missile Jump
Pack (SMJP).
PFC Ellis’ hard work and dedication to the family of
paratroopers was proven to the entire airborne community
and world, when she exited a C-130 Hercules aircraft at
1,200 feet. The Stinger Missile is a shoulder-launched
surface-to-air missile that is strapped to the
paratrooper’s body along with all of their tactical
equipment.
(To read Captain Gooding's full article and
learn more about
PFC Ellis, click on the photo to the left.)
|
AIRMEN, SOLDIERS TRAIN TO MAINTAIN SKILLS
U.S. Air Force WebSite, by Master Sergeant Chance Babin/6-27-2011
(Posted to ADA Online --
12 July 2011)
Soldiers ( l-to-r:
Specialist Jamar R. Morgan, Sergeant Domenic M. Viccari
and Private First Class Clark J. Ladd)
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery
(3-4 ADA) Regiment cordon the initial perimeter in
response to a simulated unexploded ordnance on
23 June
2011, in Southwest Asia. The members of 3-4 ADA trained
alongside Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW)
as part of a joint emergency response exercise to ensure
380th AEW and mission partner readiness.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sergeant (MSG) Chance Babin)
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In
the culmination of weeks of training, Airmen from the
380th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) and Soldiers from the 3rd
Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery (3-4 ADA) Regiment conducted
a joint emergency response exercise on 23 June.
"When we got here we wanted to make sure we are ready to
react to any situation," said Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Lee
Rodriguez, from the 3-4 ADA. "To better prepare
ourselves for real world scenarios, we've been working
in small blocks with the Air Force, leading up to this
exercise."
Sergeant Rodriguez said this exercise was developed
using real-world events that could impact operations on
Army sites.
(To read the complete
article click on either photograph or the article title
above.)
SSG Michael Dart (U.S. Air
Force) gets a report from Army SSG Brandon Combs on a
simulated unexploded ordnance during a training exercise
on 23 June 2011, in Southwest Asia. The exercise
incorporated Army and Air Force personnel ranging and
was designed to prepare 380th AEW members and mission
partners for real world scenarios. SSG Dart is a 380th
Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive
ordinance team leader and SSGCombs is assigned to 3-4
ADA.
(U.S. Air Force photo/MSG Chance Babin)
|
KIM JONG-UN ASCENT INCREASES ‘MISCALCULATIONS’ ODDS,
THURMAN SAYS
(Bloomberg/28 June 2011)
The inexperience and youth of North Korea’s
heir-apparent Kim Jong-un “increase the likelihood of
miscalculation” with South Korea and the U.S., according
to the nominee for top U.S. general there. “Although
little is known of the son, there is no evidence to
suggest his decision-making will differ significantly
from his father or that his strategic priorities will
change,” Army General James Thurman said in written
answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
Thurman in his written statement disclosed that South
Korea and the U.S. still do not have an integrated,
“layered” air defense of overlapping missile systems
needed to intercept North Korean missiles during
different flight paths.
(To read more on what General Thurman had to say, click
on the title above.)
|
THAAD COMES OFF THE LINE
(Strategy Page/27 June 2011)
The U.S. Army recently received its first two production
models of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense
(THAAD) anti-missile missiles. Last year, the army
conducted another successful test firing of THAAD,
demonstrating the system's ability to hit targets closer
to the ground, and to share data with Patriot
anti-missile systems. THAAD entered service in 2008,
with pre-production missiles for use in further testing.
Two years ago, the Army formed its second THAAD
anti-ballistic missile (ABM) battery. The Army will form
two more THAAD batteries over the next year.
(To read the entire article, click on the hyperlinked
title above.) |
|
JUST SAY NO TO MEADS
(Huffington Post/6 June 2011)
As
the United States government is tightening its belt;
some examples of ways to do it stand out more than
others. The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
is over budget, 10 years late and needs another $804
million to complete its next phase.
But, although the cost is
a bit like loose change found in the couch by Pentagon
standards, they should be finding a way to finally end
the MEADS program.Although
America and its allies have a long and productive
history of cooperation in defense and weapons systems,
it's just as important that we learn when to end them.
Such is the case with MEADS.
(Read what former Deputy National Security Advisor for
Communications and Global Outreach, Mark Pfeifle, has to
say on the subject by clicking on the hyperlinked
artwork above.)
|
NEXT-GENERATION AIR DEFENSE:
NO HITS AND ALL MISSES
(National Defense Magazine/
16 May 2011)
For anyone curious about the dark side of weapons
procurement programs, look no further than the Medium
Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). MEADS – in
development since 1999 by Germany, Italy and the United
States – was conceived as a mobile air defense system
designed to replace the aging Patriot. The United States
has been responsible for funding 58 percent of the
developmental costs, with Germany covering 25 percent
and Italy the remaining 17 percent. More than a decade
and $3 billion later, MEADS International, the prime
contractor, says it needs more time and money to
complete the development. But the Pentagon decided to
pull the plug -- cancellation of MEADS is very
controversial because DoD says it must continue to spend
$804 million over the next two years to avoid penalties.
(To read the entire article, click on the hyperlinked
title above.) |
|
|
|
POKING FUN THE ADA WAY
The following cartoons are provided for your enjoyment
by Sergeant Erin M. Smith, assigned to the 6th Air
Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
You can also enjoy the cartoons on the 6th ADA Brigade
Facebook site.
Thank you, SGT Smith for sharing them with us!
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
|
|
|
2011 ADA ONLINE ARCHIVES |
|
January 2011 |
July 2011 |
|
February 2011 |
August 2011 |
|
March 2011 |
September 2011 |
|
April 2011 |
October 2011 |
|
May 2011 |
November 2011 |
|
June 2011 |
December 2011 |
|
|
2010 ADA ONLINE ARCHIVES |
|
January 2010 |
July 2010 |
|
February 2010 |
August 2010 |
|
March
2010 |
September 2010 |
|
April
2010 |
October 2010 |
|
May 2010 |
November 2010 |
|
June 2010 |
December 2010 |
|
|
2009 ADA ONLINE ARCHIVES |
|
March 2009 |
August 2009 (Partial Issue) |
|
April 2009 |
September 2009 - No Issue |
|
May 2009 |
October 2009 - No Issue |
|
June 2009 |
November 2009 - No Issue |
|
July 2009 |
December 2009 - No Issue |
|
|
UPCOMING
EVENTS
=====
TBD
======================
|
