ADA Journal October 2023

The official publication for U.S. Army Air Defense Professionals

2023, Issue 1 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Headquarters, Department of the Army. PB 44-23-1
Air Defense Artillery Journal
Contents
Editor & ADA School PAO: Amber Osei
Art Director: David Johnson
Staff can be reached by email at usarmy.sill.fcoe.mbx.bulletins@

mail.mil or by phone at (580) 442-1090.
3 CFT Forward
By GEN James C. McConville, Army Chief of Staff (R) Disclaimer
The Air Defense Artillery Journal is published by Headquarters,
Department of the Army under the auspices of the U.S. Army
Air Defense Artillery School, 730 Schimmelpfennig Rd., Fort
6 What are you going to do about it? Sill, OK 73503. The views expressed within are those of the
The effect of Air Defense on morale authors and not the Department of Defense or its elements.
The content contained within the Air Defense Artillery
during WWII Journal does not necessarily reflect the U.S. Army’s position
By 2LT Alex Angelopoulos or supersede information in other official publications.
Use of new items constitutes neither affirmation of their
accuracy nor product endorsements. The Air Defense Artillery
Journal assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited material.
18 Leveraging the cloud to deploy, fight & win
By COL (R) Dave Shank
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
22 11th ADA BDE leads the way RANDY A. GEORGE
with Tactical Data Link University General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
By CW3 Travon Graves
Official:
24 10th AAMDC answers the call
By MAJ Justin Ruholl and LTC Rosanna Clemente
MARK F. AVERILL
28 Military Personnel Exchange Program Administrative Assistant
By 1LT Mariah Love to the Secretary of the Army
2317117
30 Engagement Operations Center

Modernization and Mobility
By LTC Trey Guy and 1LT Ian R. Stanford
CURTIS W. KING
Colonel, United States Army
Air Defense Artillery School Commandant, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
34 Air Defenders are force protectors
rediscovering and returning to short range
Air Defense historical force protection Role Purpose
The Air Defense Artillery Journal serves as a forum for the
By 1LT Ian Murren discussions of all U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery professionals,
Active, Reserves and National Guard; disseminates profes-
sional knowledge about progress, development and best use
40 Signalers work to change how Air Defense in campaigns; cultivates a common understanding of the
power, limitations and application of Fires, both lethal and
trains, certify and fight nonlethal; fosters Fires interdependency among the armed
By MAJ Joshua Richey, CPT Charles Wilson, services, all of which contribute to the good of the Army, joint
and combined forces and our nation. The Air Defense Artillery
CW2 Lucas Coffman and WO1 Alexis Martinez Journal is pleased to grant permission to reprint; please credit
Air Defense Artillery Journal, the author(s) and photographers.
44 Growing a Brigade: five lessons learned from

Cover
activating a next-generation combat force An Avenger air defense system from 5-4 Air Defense
By MAJ T. Justin Webb Artillery Regiment, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile
Defense Command, scans the skies from a hidden position on
Sept. 21, 2021 during exercise Saber Junction 21 at Hohenfels
Training Area. (U.S. Army photo by MAJ Robert Fellingham)
2 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

CFT FORWARD
Ensuring War-Winning
Future Readiness for AMD Forces
“We are getting it done. In the future, we are not going to be

outgunned, we are not going to be outranged and we are not going
to be outmaneuvered on the battlefield.”
GEN James C. McConville

Army Chief of Staff (R)
Perspective
GEN James C. McConville
Army Chief of Staff (R)
While it has always been an exciting time to be an air defender,
the present day challenges the Army faces in air defense require,
rapid, persistent transformation as never before. The Army has
made great strides the last few years in terms of enhancing our
modernization and readiness efforts across the range of doctrine,
organization, training, materiel, leadership and education,
personnel and facilities (DOTMLPF) functions. Technology
has matured to the point where we are now able to physically
manifest the vision of integrated air defense pioneers 40 years
ago were only able to conceptualize.
This is the greatest and most complex modernization of our

air and missile defense capability since the Cold War, centered on
connecting sensors, shooters and a common mission command
system. Ultimately, it is about giving our warfighters capabilities
sooner and increasing the options available in order to keep pace
with our adversaries, making their challenges more complex.
Designing the Army of 2040
The Air & Missile Defense Cross Functional Team focuses on

transforming our air and missile defense force and developing
new capabilities supporting the Army modernization priorities.
Our competitors have been investing in unmanned aircraft and
missile systems, requiring us to rapidly modernize and transform
our air and missile defense capabilities. While our progress
and our efforts have been significant, they are one piece of the
overall Army Futures Command’s (AFC) focus to build the Army
of 2030 and design the Army of 2040. AFC is transforming the
Army to ensure war-winning future readiness. Guided by the
AFC imperative to design the Army of 2040, we are partnering
with Army, multi-service, and multinational military partners
as well as our industry partners to transform air and missile
defense capabilities to better enable our forces to maintain a
2023 - Issue 1 • 3
significant edge over our adversaries in the and control systems, enabling improved
future. coordinated engagements, positive control of
sensors and weapons, friendly protection, and
With essential input and feedback from our shared situational understanding. IBCS open
warfighters, we are creating capabilities that will architecture enables the rapid integration of
remain relevant well into the next decade and both legacy and developmental sensors/shooters,
beyond. The value of Soldier-centered design providing the force with capabilities to defeat
is that it deliberately brings Soldiers into the emerging threats in a Multi-Domain Operations
development process in regular and meaningful scenario. IBCS completed Initial Operational
ways. These events provide an opportunity Test & Evaluation in 1st Quarter FY23 that will
for Soldiers who are in formations now, and inform the Initial Operational Capability and the
may be on the battlefield tomorrow, to provide Full-Rate Production decisions. Additionally,
valuable input to industry representatives, IBCS participated in Project Convergence 22 with
testers, researchers and acquisition experts U.S., other service, and multinational partners.
on the capabilities the force will need to fight
and win. Soldier engagements help pinpoint Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor
overlooked end-user issues and confirm or dispel (LTAMDS)
the need for development teams to address real
or perceived technological challenges. Soldier LTAMDS delivers sensor capability to counter
touchpoints inform requirements, facilitate rapid advanced threats and take full advantage of
iteration of prototypes and ensure the Army is the Patriot Missile Segment Enhancement
meeting Soldiers’ tactical and operational needs. (MSE) capability. LTAMDS serves as a sensor
node on the Integrated Air and Missile Defense
We are strengthening a legacy of excellence (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) network.
that will underpin warfighters’ ability to win LTAMDS provides a significant increase in range
anytime, anywhere, against any foe. We continue and coverage capability over current Patriot
to be well supported by our military and industry Radar The development of a new 500kW large
partners from higher headquarters, Army tactical power system is an integral part of
Futures Command, our Army Senior Leaders the LTAMDS solution in order to enable it to
and Army Staff/Secretariat. In the trenches, meet full radar performance requirements. In
we continue to work very closely with Program 2023, initial prototypes were delivered to the
Executive Office Missiles & Space, as well as test range (White Sands Missile Range) for
Army Capability Managers, the Rapid Capabilities contractor testing and the U.S. Government
and Critical Technologies Office, and Army Test is conducting a technical analysis on the test
and Evaluation Command. With a common vision data. The LTAMDS program is on path to meet
in mind, we have partnered to develop and legislative requirements.
refine the requirements that allow the Program
Managers to mature those systems that best Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense
meet warfighter needs. (M-SHORAD)
Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Our Army’s M-SHORAD development efforts
(AIAMD) have continued on schedule and are producing
results. As a system, M-SHORAD supports
AIAMD remains our top priority. The IAMD warfighters at the tactical level. It provides air
Battle Command System (IBCS) is the material protection to maneuver formations to counter a
component of the overall AIAMD system. IBCS wide range of air threats, from unmanned aerial
provides common mission command across systems to rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
all Army AMD echelons, improves combat M-SHORAD is about developing challenges or
identification, provides flexibility in task complexities for our adversaries, while creating
organization, and improves joint integration. options for tactical and operational commanders
AIAMD replaces multiple disparate command in a ground fight. As of this publication date,

we have fielded all or most of a full battalion and tailorable suite of capabilities to the force
of M-SHORAD to 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense commander (for mounted, dismounted, fixed and
Artillery Regiment in Germany. This unit has semi-fixed operations) that support a layered
been putting a platoon of vehicles through its defense and incorporate active, passive, and
paces the past two years and is ready to complete deep sensing. Such capabilities enhance the
its fielding this year. Directed Energy M-SHORAD ability of our warfighters to integrate C-sUAS
(Increment 2) prototypes are being fielded in capabilities with kinetic and electronic warfare
2Q-3Q FY23 to 4-60 ADA at Fort Sill (and Yuma to successfully operate across the full range of
Proving Ground) for testing and training. military operations. In 2022, the CFT developed
a near-term funding strategy prioritization
Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) plan to support research, development, test and
evaluation requirements for the (fiscal) years
Our Enduring IFPC system provides the 2023-2025.
capability to defend fixed and semi-fixed assets
against sub-sonic cruise missile and UAS threats, Way Ahead
with a residual capability against fixed and rotary
wing aircraft. The system provides 360-degree Our efforts to transform air and missile defense
protection to support and protect maneuver capabilities today and in the future are a critical
formations and the ability to simultaneously piece of the larger Army transformation efforts
engage threats arriving from different to build the Army of 2030 while designing
azimuths. The IFPC system fills the the Army of 2040. The solution
gaps between tactical short-range set requires that we develop and
air defense and strategic air and provide a tiered and layered mix
missile defense such as the of capabilities that enables our
Patriot and the Terminal High warfighters to defeat the complex
Altitude Area Defense System. In threats posed by our adversaries.
2022, the first Iron Dome battery We must revisit longstanding
shipped to Joint Base Lewis- doctrinal and organizational
McChord. We anticipate the constructs which may be rendered
initial fielding of Enduring IFPC irrelevant by new capabilities and
(Increment 2) in 2023. The enduring rigorous analysis. Likewise, we
IFPC program will be compatible with must aggressively continue to explore
the Army’s Integrated Battle Command new opportunities that are created by the
System (IBCS) and the Sentinel Radar. promise of modernized equipment as a part of the
data centric joint force. There is no silver bullet
Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems solution to building this air and missile defense
(C-sUAS) capability for our forces. It is a challenging,
demanding problem set that requires keen
In 2022, C-sUAS became part of our AMD minds, new ways of thinking, collaboration,
portfolio our portfolio as a fifth signature and a warfighter focus. I encourage you to seek
effort. Our competitors have invested heavily out opportunities to participate in this tough but
in unmanned aircraft, so U.S. forces require rewarding challenge to transforming YOUR air
capabilities to perform C-sUAS missions to and missile defense force!
deny threat sUAS (groups 1-3) the ability to
detect, surveil, target, attack, and disrupt U.S. Five of our systems mentioned above—
forces across all domains. C-sUAS is a combined AIAMD, M-SHORAD, DE M-SHORAD, IFPC and
arms requirement requiring combinations LTAMDS-- represent the air and missile defense
of technologies and TTPs, developed and community’s significant contribution to “24 in
refined through experimentation, analysis, ‘23”, the Army’s vision to get 24 systems into
and collaboration. Our capability development the hands of Soldiers in 2023. It is truly a great
efforts focus on providing a networked, scalable, time to be an air defender in our Army!
2023 - Issue 1 • 5
Abstract: During World War II, air defense played a
prominent role in safeguarding against bombing raids and
enemy planes. However, those defenses were just as useful,
if not more, for keeping up morale as they were for shooting
down planes. This project examines how anti-aircraft
artillery affected morale and argues that the unintended
WHAT
consequence of air defense was the preservation of morale
among civilians and soldiers alike. This project asks to
what degree did air defenses lessen the panic experienced
by enduring aerial bombings. This analysis brings up the
YOU A
ethical and technological implications of air defenses during
World War II and beyond.
ARE
sound like thunder rolls over the skies.
In the pitch black of night, the sky is
illuminated by the explosions and flash
D O
of anti-aircraft guns. A distant “pop-pop-pop-
GOIN G T O
pop” fills the air as they take shots at the whir of
aircraft; a rumble of explosions as bombs reach
their target or miss completely. The ground
shakes and smoke obscures your vision as you
O U T I T ?
cough from the acrid smoke. How do you fight
A B
back against this threat from the sky, so far above
your head? This trauma was far too common
as both soldiers and civilians alike experienced
constant bombings in their homes, cities, and
battlefields.
The Effect of Much like the fear of gas and chemical warfare
Air Defense during World War 1, bombings were a looming
specter to both civilians and military alike during
on Morale World War 2. Every country involved in the conflict
faced and feared air raids and bombings. Even
During World War II countries that were far from the front lines of the
conflict, such as the United States, dreaded this
specter from the air, and when it would strike.
By 2LT Alex Angelopoulos This fear was so prevalent that the United States
government made films depicting how to survive
air raids in order to quell possible panic. In an
attempt to allay this terror, countries sought to
grow the anti-aircraft defenses on the ground.
But how effective were those defenses really?
Did the anti-aircraft artillery help lessen the
frequency or impact of aerial bombings? Or was
it simply a morale measure to help prevent panic?
Air defense was war changing by helping preserve
morale as the technology served its intended
purpose. The primary sources analyzed in the
following pages paint a picture of a contemporary
technological marvel that raised morale while
also happening to shoot down and deter bombers

and planes. Some sources discussed here paint a radar which provided an early warning system for
clear picture of the effect on morale, while others planes approaching mainland Britain. While the
talk around it or simply imply that outcome. advancement in technology is an important part
The anti-aircraft artillery of World War 2, while of determining the effectiveness of air defense,
it had its weaknesses, was a powerful tool that the specific details are not the most important
influenced both civilian and soldier morale during part of the scholarship on air defense. Instead,
bombings. Air defense was integral against the there is considerable debate on how it changed
bombings campaigns of World War II and the rise and what prompted said change.
of air warfare, but the effect on morale is buried
under the story of technological advancement. The conversation on air defense during World
War II by prominent scholars is focused almost
Air defense got its start long before it the entirely on the technological advancements made
bombing campaigns of World War II with the before, during, and immediately after the war.
use of aerial balloons during the American Civil Most experts examine air defense through the lens
War. At the time it was mostly just theoretical, of technological advancement due to mistakes in
as aviation was limited to the balloon’s ability doctrine, and view the improvements as the result
to go up and down. The fear of the skies was of adaptation to those faults. The other school
not prominent or considered much of a threat. of thought views air defense through the lens of
The only thing lurking above your head was a doctrinal change due to technological advances,
bird and the occasional bomb they would drop. which argues that the upgrades in technology is
This all changed during the conflict to end all what caused the popular conceptions of air defense
conflicts; the Great War, or as we know it today, to change. No matter the school of thought,
World War 1. As planes became more reliable both sides agree that military commanders and
and more value was placed in their ability to thinkers tended to only focus on the technological
observe the trench lines and fight other enemy aspects of air defense rather than its effects
planes, those on the ground felt the increasing on population. The response to technological
need to develop weapons to combat them. The adaptations in air defense, as well as the
Germans were the first to turn to artillery as existence of anti-aircraft artillery as a whole, is
a defense against airplanes. It was their name undervalued when compared to the technological
for artillery that was shortened to flak, which analysis. This technological argument is the main
became a universal term for anti-aircraft fires.1 focus of almost all scholarship on air defense,
The primitive artillery and machine guns used especially that which is focused on World War
were not incredibly effective in shooting down II. Many scholars are blinded by the idea that
airplanes but it forced observation planes to fly the technology and advancement of such is the
higher and be less accurate. The theories on air only thing that matters to advance the narrative
defense that sprang from the experiences in of progress.
World War I didn’t get tested until the interwar
period between World War I and World War II, Nothing explains how prominently the United
when many thinkers understood both the need States’s late start to the war affected air defense
for air defense and its potential capabilities. like “Learning to Fight from the Ground Up:
When World War 1 broke out in 1914, the use American Anti Aircraft Artillery in World War II”
of planes was far more prevalent and so was by Bryon Greenwald. The article discusses how
the need for protection against them, yet the the United States soldiers made costly mistakes
danger posed by airplanes was not as strong as due to their inexperience. Greenwald argues
in World War II. In the beginning of World War that “no single theory—top down, bottom up,
II, anti-aircraft artillery relied mainly on sight middle out, inter or intra-service rivalry, or
and searchlights to spot planes and adjust the single or double loop learning—is sufficient to
artillery fires from there. Later, Britain introduced understand how innovation and adaptation occurs
1 James Crabtree. On Air Defense. 13.
2023 - Issue 1 • 7
in combat.”2 Instead, change occurs in many Command: The Rise of Strategic Air Defence in
dimensions, in multiple ways. He argues that Great Britain, 1917-1934” by John Ferris, also
the main areas of change were in technology, contains a technological argument, however
resources, training and doctrine, and from the this one differs slightly from “On Air Defense”.
“top down” in leadership. Greenwald uses the “Fighter Defence Before Fighter Command’’
example of Chief of Staff at the time, General argues that instead of air defense changing due
George C. Marshall, meeting with other top to technology, technology changed due to air
leaders to encourage officers to take responsibility defense. Ferris says “FAHQ had solved every
for training as well as lengthening training time other problem in air defence. It began to solve
with anti-aircraft crews and practicing with real the remaining problems in 1933-34, through
equipment and live fires, using live ammunition. the development of radar, high performance
It was this change in both doctrine and resources cantilever monoplanes with eight wing mounted
that molded U.S. air defenses into an effective machine guns, and the systematic improvement
fighting force. This change was prompted by the of air tactics.”4 proving that Britain’s Fighting
necessity for advances in technology, as anti- Area Headquarters (FAHQ) had developed air
aircraft units were shooting down more friendly defense technology to preempt any technological
planes than enemy planes. advancements in aviation. This highlights the
interdependence of technology and air defense,
Greenwald argues that this change was a suggesting that the relationship between the two
natural progression of making mistakes and is the most important facet of the advancement
learning from them, and so was driven by of air defense and the primary indicator of what
how anti-aircraft artillery affected the people trends will play out in the progress of air defense.
around it. In the book “On Air Defense” by
James Crabtree, the main argument was that air Most, if not all, academics on air defense
defense improved through responses to advances during this time period agree that technology
in aviation technology. During World War 1 “… was either influenced by adaptations or was the
air defense would prove not only practical but cause of adaptations, or both. However there is
necessary in the new ways of waging wars, some disagreement on the extent that technology
new ways that would just begin to touch on a played on this. An example of this is in “On
separation in air defense between the tactical Air Defense” and “Learning to Fight From the
battle of the field armies and the strategic defense Ground Up”. Both sources agreed that technology
of home cities”.3 The change in air defense was as helped adaptation, but there was a disagreement
a reaction to innovation in other fields of aviation on the role technology played in that adaptation.
and warfare, rather than the result of anticipating “On Air Defense” used various technological
threats from aviation. Crabtree documents the advancements to emphasize that technology
changes made to air defense from its birth in the was the most important force in the evolution
late 1800’s to the modern usage in 1990’s, and in of air defense. Its consecutive upgrades asserts
each stage documented the specific technological that technology was the driving factor in overall
changes that caused air defenses to adapt. He progress. “Learning to Fight from the Ground
relies on evidence mainly from maps and plans Up” instead suggested that the technology came
from the eras he studies, as well as an analysis second to the training on said technology, and
of the technology itself. These pieces of evidence that by increasing time spent with the weapons
further support his technological argument, as systems, pushed air defense further than just
the upgrades to air defense batteries only came technology alone.
about as a reaction to attacks, mainly bombings.
Any historian of air defense during World War II
The article “Fighter Defence before Fighter would agree with the idea that technology played
2 Bryon Greenwald. Learning to Fight From the Ground Up: American Antiaircraft Artillery in World War II. 37.
3 James Crabtree. On Air Defense. 11.
4 John Ferris. Fighter Defence before Fighter Command: The Rise of Strategic Air Defence in Great Britain, 1917-1934.

at least some part in the evolution of air defense, and bombings would have on civilians and they
that much is clear. The source of the argument lies wanted to have as much of a positive influence
in exactly how great of a part technology actually as possible.
played and to what degree. This distinction, while
from the outset appears to be just semantics, This source implies the boost to morale that
is crucial for showing how effective air defense comes from air defense, rather than explicitly
was thought to be, at least from a historical stating it, like some others in this analysis. In
point of view. In modern times, scholars can use contrast to the next source, the “Army Forces
statistics and documented casualties to prove that Field Manual” seemed to care more about the
air defense did something, in terms of fighting civilians it defended rather than the soldiers
bombers and other aircraft. These “hard facts” themselves and their attitudes and morale. It
were unavailable to the people who lived in that placed the initiative on the commanders and
time and could only rely on what they saw and officers to motivate their soldiers while also
heard. The disagreement among historians then protecting the morale of civilians.
lies in how it affected morale and civilians, as well
as to which degree air defense helped prevent and The source IX Air Defense Command: Historical
protect cities and populations. It is this focus on and Statistical Summary 1 Jan 1944- 1 June 1945
technology which obscures the broader, unstated shows that the air defenses in Belgium had the
argument about morale. morbid outcome of destroying more friendly
planes than enemy planes. This particular unit
The primary handbook that detailed explicitly reported 36 enemy fighters shot down and 69
how the United States air defenses worked in a friendly shot down.7 While the defenses mentioned
technological sense was the “Army Air Forces did shoot down enemy fighters, it shot down
Field Manual”. It was published in 1943, as the nearly double the amount of friendly aircraft.8
United States joined the fight in World War II. The This source is one of the few that shows a loss
manual was created in order to “present a general in morale as the unit was forced to reckon with
statement of the organization for air defense”5 the friendly casualties it caused. The unit in the
and lay out the organization and principles for summary was one of many in Europe at the time,
the U.S. Army air defenses in World War II. This and it paints a picture of technological failure that
source was published by the War Department was all too common among air defense units,
and while it can be considered fact, it shows especially the new United States ones.
how air defense should have been, not how it
actually was. The information inside was laid This source paints a picture of technological
out plainly with little to no emotion, yet it is and doctrinal failure by using statistics and
possible to infer the effects on morale these “hard facts” to summarize the performance
instructions provided. The instructions in the of the unit as a whole. The report was created
manual advised to keep minimal interference on by Brigadier General William Richardson, later
communities and civilians, in order to win over Major General, who was in charge of organizing
attitudes towards anti-aircraft batteries. It also and training the Ninth Air Defense Command of
contains a section entirely devoted to civilian the Ninth Air Force, and planned the air defense
defense and assisting the surrounding civilian operations for the continental invasion of Europe
population.6 Why would soldiers care about the during World War II. He compiled all the data
fears and attitudes of civilians, especially ones on his unit into a report to be analyzed and was
in countries that were not their own? Even as likely motivated by a desire to learn from his
inexperienced as the soldiers of the United States mistakes and better his unit. He assumes, when
were, they understood the effect air defenses writing and compiling this that it would be for
5 United States Dept. of the Army. Army Air Forces Field Manual. 1.
6 United States Dept. of the Army. Army Air Forces Field Manual. 23.
7 William Richardson. IX Air Defense Command: Historical and Statistical Summary 1 Jan 1944- 1 June 1945.
2023 - Issue 1 • 9
a military audience, namely his commanders. It war and joined at the very end. The British joined
is likely he is biased in reporting failures as it the war three years before the Americans did and
would make his leadership look bad. There is a bore the brunt of the bombings as one of the last
possibility there are more friendly casualties than holdouts in Europe to the German war machine.
reported or less enemy casualties than reported. The sources from the British point of view paint a
The report is representative of many other air far greater picture of their struggles to maintain
defense units, specifically U.S. ones, and paints and increase morale through years of bombings.
a picture of what air defense during World War
II in the U.S. Army was like as a whole. The One such source was a poster with the title
secondary source “Learning to Fight from the “What Are You Going To Do About It?” which
Ground Up: American Anti Aircraft Artillery in shows a picture of a falling bomb on a yellow,
World War II” also describes the same problems orange, and red background, made using a
this particular unit ran into which was that anti- lithograph. The date of origin is unknown but it
aircraft artillery often shot down more friendly was sponsored by the 9th Battalion Middlesex
planes than enemy.9 Shooting down friendly Regiment and the 36th Middlesex Anti-Aircraft
planes would affect morale in a negative way Battalion (Royal Engineers) of the Territorial
rather than the positive boost to morale that is Army. The poster is an advertisement for joining
found in other sources. Soldiers manning these the “territorials,”10 the territorial army of the
sites would feel incredibly guilty about friendly British. The use of the bomb as a recruiting tool
fire and would be less likely to fire on aircraft as shows the fear created by the constant bombings
a whole, decreasing effectiveness and continuing by the Germans. Even though the poster itself
to lower morale. They would be forced to live is advertising “sports, games,” and “good
and continue with the knowledge that they were comradeship”11 which are arguably positive and
responsible for the killing of other Americans. Did pleasant things, the main draw is the lurking
this shock to morale cause soldiers to be less eager threat that every person in Britain feels. The
to fire on planes or did the heat of battle and fear recruiters who sponsored and published this
of death override any guilt they had? This report wanted to use a “carrot and the stick” type of
provides a
view from the
very top of
the command
chain, and so
misses any
picture of the
soldiers on
the ground.
This source
and the one
before it give a
glimpse of the
American view
on morale and
air defense,
yet America
only spent
Left - Figure 1: Poster “What are You going to do about it” Taken from the Imperial War Museum.
about three
Right - Figure 2: Poster “A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action” Taken from the Imperial War Museum.
years in the
10 Territorial Army, 9th Battalion (the Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Middlesex Regiment, What are You going to do about it?
11 Territorial Army. What are You going to do about it?

draw to the territorial army. There were good feel helpless, which is far more important than
things to gain by joining the territorials, but there the numbers of planes shot down. The use of
was also the feeling of accountability to protect language describing the Germans as “German
yourself, your family, and your country from the Raiders”14 evokes imagery of barbarians who are
German bombs. The poster was clearly aimed cruelly attacking Britain. It paints a very clear
at the British public and was broad in nature in picture of “Us” normal people versus “them”
order to capture the attention of as many people savage and aggressive people. The symbolism
as possible. The use of language in the title of the bright light of the guns firing, reflected
almost seems accusatory by forcing the viewer on the dark skies shows how the anti-aircraft
of this poster to ask themselves what they are artillery was the bright light in the darkness of
doing to help both the war effort and fight the the bombing raids, and would bring people hope
Germans. The color of the bomb as pitch black in when they saw it. Both the air defenses and the
contrast to the light background evokes a feeling picture of the air defenses were important tools
of dread, as you can’t see any detail to the bomb to withstand apprehension and dread that derived
itself, just the silhouette. The encouragement to from the constant bombings. Not only would
essentially band together in the face of a threat joining anti-aircraft batteries physically repel
would encourage morale through shared struggles bombings, it would also provide opportunities to
and bonds, by fighting back against said threat. showcase this resistance to the public.
The British government wanted to resist the
feelings of helplessness and doubt and would Another example of photographs being used
use propaganda such as posters like this source to increase morale is a photo that juxtaposes
and the next one. the princess royal, who we know as Elizabeth
II with air defenses. This photograph illustrates
The poster “A British Anti-aircraft Battery in air defenses being used for morale purposes by
Action” shows two British anti-aircraft guns in showing the current queen of England Eizabeth
the foreground, taking up most of the space. The II, though at that point only a princess, visiting
rest of the image shows the light emitted from a mixed anti-aircraft battery. The photo features
the guns as they fire, breaking the darkness HRH surrounded by her entourage and other
surrounding the guns. The text of the poster says soldiers standing next to a large 3.7 heavy anti-
“A British Anti-aircraft Battery in action. More aircraft gun. The gun is about double her size and
than 590 German raiders have been destroyed stands in the foreground while in the background
by anti-aircraft fire over Britain.”12 The poster soldiers wearing MK II helmets demonstrate how
was created by James Gardner, a prolific poster it works. The caption on the back reads “Gunnery
maker who’s artwork spanned the entirety of officers explaining points of interest to H.R.H.
World War 2 and a few years beyond. Most of about a 3.7 Heavy A.A. gun.”15 The back of the
his posters displayed British aircraft or the war picture also reveals the photo was “taken by Lt.
effort during World War 2. In this poster, Gardner O’Brien”16 dated 5.8.44. This photo was taken
clearly wants to show the might and effectiveness exactly a year before V-E day and while the threat
of the anti-aircraft guns. Though the number of bombings had faded with the Allies on the
of planes shot down shows that the technology offensive, it was important to continue to preserve
was effective,13 the main purpose of this poster morale for both soldiers and civilians. The royal
was to raise morale. The poster showed that family of England acts as a cultural head of state,
the guns were doing something against the and photographs of them observing important
bombers that attacked Britain, which meant that defenses and visiting soldiers would boost the
the British were not helpless, or at least didn’t spirits of both soldiers and civilians alike. It
12 James Gardner. A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action.

13 Gardner. A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action.
14 Gardner. A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action.
15 Lt. O’Brien. H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS MIXED HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY.
16 O’Brien. H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS MIXED HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY.
2023 - Issue 1 • 11
would also show that everyone in Britain, from three subsidiary but interrelated phases. Simply
the lowest level to the highest, was doing their stated, these are early detection of the enemy,
part for the war effort. While this photograph his continuous and accurate location and,
combines both the Royal Family and air defenses finally, engagement and destruction. In broad
to raise morale, the next photograph focuses terms, these are the prerequisites of successful
solely on air defenses. interception both by day and by night, with the
important difference that by night the limitations
The photograph “The Auxiliary Territorial of human vision had somehow to be made good.”17
Service At An Anti-Aircraft Gun Site In Britain, This shows that anti-aircraft artillery was limited
December 1942” looks very similar to the poster by technology and human error, and had many
“A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action’’, in limitations to be effective at shooting down
that it features two anti-aircraft guns firing at aircraft. The tradeoff for accuracy was the impact
night and lighting up the sky. The picture was on both civilian and military populations. The
taken in December 1942, which was after the goal was to alleviate feelings of helplessness and
Blitz. With hindsight, we know that the threat of defeat by providing a visual counteroffensive to
bombs had subsided, but the fear remained and German planes. The RAF were far more concerned
with it the constant training against it. about the technological failings than the impact
on the public18 that other government officials
This photo demonstrates how bombings at were, and so often ignored these impacts. Much
this point were so engrained in life in Britain and like the American “Army Air Forces Field Manual”
provides an example of showcasing resistance this source implies the effect on morale, rather
in the public sphere. The photo may have been than stating it directly. They were focused on
demonstrating technological capabilities but it air defense’s primary objective which was the
was created with morale in mind. The display of defense against aircraft. In contrast, air defense’s
power would have bolstered public morale and secondary objective to provide a source of morale
shown that Britain was still prepared and ready is stated more explicitly in the next source, which
to fight the threat from the sky. The bright lights is a film.
of the guns are providing the light needed to take
the photo, symbolizing how the air defenses lit The video source “When Air Raids Strike ‘’ is
up the skies and provided hope for citizens living an American propaganda film created in 1942,
through the constant bombings. These bombings after the US had entered World War 2. The film
were engrained in public life and
so photos like these were created
for the benefit of public morale. In
writings and discussions from the
time period, British commanders
and soldiers state as much, often
explicitly or indirectly.
The RAF narrative on the

Air Defense of Great Britain
Vol III, Night Air Defence, June
1940-December 1941, paints a
different picture and focuses on the Left - Figure 3: Photograph “H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS MIXED HEAVY
technology and how that supported ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY” Taken from the Imperial War Museum. Right - Figure
RAF operations. From the text 4: Photograph “The Auxiliary Territorial Service At An Anti-Aircraft Gun Site In
the RAF states “The problem of Britain, December 1942” Taken from the Imperial War Museum.
air defence is well conceived in
17 Air Historical Branch Air Ministry. Air Defense of Great Britain Vol III, Night Air Defence, June 1940-December 1941. 7.
18 Air Historical Branch Air Ministry. Air Defense of Great Britain Vol III. 8.

describes what to do when an air raid happens. in Britain, specifically by the British government,
While the United States had only experienced the it is narrated by an American war correspondent
attack on Pearl Harbor, the fear of bombings was Quentin Reynolds. This was meant to try and
just as present in the minds of the public. The influence the American public by presenting a
United States designated certain coastal areas as familiar voice, one with an American accent.
“target areas’’ and the population living in those This was meant to be filmed like a documentary,
areas started preparing for what they felt was an though there is some question as to how much
inevitable attack. They too had to adjust to the of it is accurate or representative of the whole
fear of bombings prevalent in Europe and Asia, population. The title “London Can Take It” evokes
though they were slower to adapt as they “long imagery of a bomb-hardened London citizen who
imagined that it was well out of war’s reach.”19 isn’t asking for pity from the American people
The film helps boost morale as it not only informs but support for the war against the “barbaric”
the viewer what to do in the event of an air raid Germans. The title is itself a challenge to both the
but also gives the example of Great Britain as British and the Germans. It shows the Germans
a grizzled veteran of air raids. By showing the that Britain would withstand anything that was
anti-aircraft batteries of Britain, the film shows launched at them and it asked British people
that the people of England have gone through to demonstrate a deeper resolve and morale to
it and so can the Americans. Just the use of remain strong.
the imagery of anti-aircraft boosts morale and
provides comfort against the threat of bombs. The film demonstrates how continuous anti-
The film also brings up the point that “Whether bombing propaganda was a part of maintaining
or not the anti-aircraft gunners actually shoot morale, along with air defenses and anti-aircraft
down the enemy, their curtain of fire has time artillery. This source is one that implies an effect
and again made precision bombing impossible.”20 on morale rather than stating it. The film does
By directly stating that the use of air defense not want to portray the British public as weak
is not primarily in how many planes it shot or doubtful, and so it pushes a narrative that
down but how it prevented accuracy and saved everyone was doing what they can to fight back.
lives and industry like factories for armaments This anxiety is also shown through the oral
and hospitals exemplifies the argument that air history of a woman who worked in a mixed anti-
defenses increased and effected morale. Less aircraft battery.
bombs on target often means less destruction
of homes, cities, and important infrastructure. I turn now to the oral histories, an important
Less destruction means less recovery and more yet often overlooked piece of the story of air
of the things you need and want in day to day defense. While they tend to be subjective, it
life. This film, much like the film in the next provides a firsthand account of morale during
source, shows Britain as a war-hardened and the war. These are the testimonies of the people
determined people, though it emphasizes anti- who lived and experienced bombings and worked
aircraft artillery as a primary defense for several on the antiaircraft batteries. Their stories and
reasons. In the film “When Air Raids Strike” its experiences working on these batteries are
purpose is to show that Britain is fighting back. arguably the most important pieces of evidence for
In the film in the next source, its purpose is to the effect of air defense on morale because they
show that Britain can withstand any bombings often explicitly state how air defenses increased
launched at it. their morale during the war. The experiences
and stories of those who lived provide the
The film “London Can Take It” was a propaganda closest glimpse into what actually happened
film released by the British government in 1940 that academics can get without physically being
with the aim of being released in the United States there themselves. This personalizes the story and
to raise support for Britain. Despite being made completely illustrates the human factor of war.
19 Westbrook Van Voorhis. The March of Time: When Air Raids Strike. 0:01:35.
20 Van Voorhis. When Air Raids Strike. 0:04:26.
2023 - Issue 1 • 13
The story of Rosemary Sylvia Shea demonstrates William Sherman ended up dying in 1927 as
how the fear of bombings pulled those who an aviation instructor at Fort Leavenworth,
weren’t necessarily the first to join the fight. The Kansas, so he never saw how correct he would
desire to fight against the bombings was strong end up being during World War II. Most of what
enough to persuade women to join the Auxiliary Sherman wrote ended up being reliable though
Territorial Service and man the air defenses. he admits that it was influenced by many others
The bombing campaigns against the British and was purely personal opinion, not an official
provided an indiscriminate enemy that could unite publication. Sherman clearly values aviation as
everyone, regardless of their background. This led a viable method of study for future wars. This
to the creation of mixed [gender] batteries which source is not directly tied to World War II but it
were often used as propaganda pieces on top of accurately predicted how aviation and air defense
their duties as air defenses. They were often used would be used. Sherman knew, years before air
to show that all of Britain stood united which warfare was truly a threat, that there would be a
increased morale of civilians who couldn’t fight human factor that affected air power.23 Fear is a
and simply had to endure. Shea remarks how she powerful psychological motivator, and bombings
was “very proud”21 of how the batteries did and would instill that fear. He knew that people on
it gave you “satisfaction or pride”22 in what you the ground, essentially helpless from destruction
did for the war efforts. Her pride in the batteries raining from the sky, would affect morale and
exemplifies the morale boost that air defenses the people’s view on war. Sherman explicitly
provided. Rather than remember and discuss states “For the nature of man is the same today
the bombings and the feelings those evoked, she as of old, and his reactions to physical stimuli
instead recalls her efforts on the battery itself as remain essentially unchanged.”24 (page 6) While
her main memories of the war. This idea, that he didn’t explicitly say that air defenses would be
civilians would be more influenced by air defenses the answer to this “reaction to physical stimuli”25
than the bombings itself was hypothesized in it is implicitly stated. Sherman’s writings were
the years leading up to World War II, as shown an accurate predictor of bombings in World War
by the next source. II and beyond, and are supported by several oral
histories, including this next source.
Even from the beginnings, theorists of air
power knew the affect planes and bombs would A testimony of how air defenses increased
have on those stuck on the ground. One of those morale came from the oral history of Herbert
theorists, William C. Sherman, one of the first Stanley Grove, who worked as a spotter on an
Army Air force instructors foresaw this effect anti-aircraft site called Chigwell Rise in Essex,
and wrote about how civilians suffered more England. As he describes his experiences training
from bombings than military personnel. “Air and operating on one of these sights he mentions
Warfare” by William C. Sherman was published that there “Wasn’t enough anti-aircraft firing
in 1926, around 15 years before the start of World going on to build up the morale of the civilian
War II. Sherman was a premier thinker and population”26 and so the British government
strategist of air warfare and air defense. His and head of the British Army had them fire
writings in the book predicted how air warfare more rounds during raids. Clearly, the decision
would be fought and what affects air defense makers of the time knew about the effect of
would have on warfare. By writing this, Sherman the air defenses on the morale of the civilian
wanted to predict and influence future conflicts populations. Almost as a result of this, he also
and be better prepared for any coming wars. noted that there was “very little defeatism about
21 Rosemary Sylvia Shea. Interview by Conrad Wood. 2002.

22 Shea. Interview by Conrad Wood. 2002.
23 William Carrington Sherman, Johnson, and Air University (U.S.). Press [1926] 2002. Air Warfare.
24 Sherman. Air Warfare. 6.
25 Sherman. Air Warfare. 6.
26 Herbert Stanley Grove. Interview by Conrad Wood. 1992.

the blitz”27 and that most British were willing Much like the thoughts on the war itself, there
to fight their way through. This relationship was a divide in how both the British and the
between the British morale and air defense was Americans thought about air defense. The British
interconnected throughout the war. The British had the advantage of having both experience with
were ready and had the morale to fight against being bombed and defending against bombings,
bombings and so turned to air defenses to protect and they had the ability to test what worked and
their homes. The air defenses provided morale what didn’t over several years. The Americans
and caused the general population to be far more had the ability to learn from others’ mistakes
willing to withstand the constant bombings. as they had joined the war in the last few years.
However, they did not do that and often ended up
Even if the defenses weren’t incredibly effective repeating the same mistakes as others such as not
against the aircraft solely by aiming, they could having the ability to distinguish friendly planes
provide fields of fire that made the bombings from enemy planes. Nonetheless, they were able
inaccurate, while providing a spectacle for the to make use of radar and other technological
civilians stuck experiencing the bombings. Even advances in air defenses and use that to their
a soldier on the ground understood the need for advantage. Due to this divide in thinking, the
air defenses and the morale boost it provided, as Americans were often behind on how to use air
shown in both this oral history and the next one. defenses and how effective they could be.
The oral history of Helen Constance Cousins With the increase in both air defenses and
who worked on a gun site provides a similar bombings in modern warfare, the effect on morale
narrative on working on anti-aircraft defenses. will be a crucial influence on civilian and soldier’s
She remarks on how they were encouraged to join morale. It determines how willing these people
due to the need for air defenses and people to were to fight a long, hard war which required
man them. There was an increase in fear as the sacrifices and strong resolve. The major effect
threat changed from aircraft bombings to long would be deterrence against bombers but the
range rockets which were almost impossible to hit secondary effect is on morale. Morale is chased
by anti-aircraft defenses. Cousins describes her and far more necessary than many believe because
battery as very effective against German aircraft it influences if people will fight a war. Low morale
but was shocked by seeing German pilots who often means low support for war, which causes
seemed very young. However, she realized that lost battles and low public support for war. Even
“it was us or them”28 and was less perturbed by in today’s military, morale is crucial to soldier
doing her job. Her narrative provides another readiness and productivity. Anti-aircraft artillery
look at British who felt gratified by manning worked both to shoot down bombers and make
air defenses and it provided them something to their bombing raids less accurate along with the
do against the Germans, rather than experience unintended consequence to prevent panic from
the helplessness of being unable to fight back. the threat of bombings. The research suggests
Cousins’ testimony provides evidence for both a that people of the time understood the effects on
positive and negative effect on morale. On one morale and how they helped or hindered the war
hand, she was proud of her battery and what effort, but that conclusion seems to have been
it did for the people around her. On the other glossed over in subsequent scholarly research. So
hand, she felt somber and mournful for the lives often the human aspect of military history has
of the German pilots that she felt responsible been lost or ignored to chase flashier aspects of
for killing. Despite this, it was the hopefulness technology, strategy, and tactics. This issue is one
and camaraderie that the anti-aircraft battery that should bear more weight moving forward
provided that won out, showing the positive in this field of research, as the human aspect is
impact that it had on both her and the British arguably the most important. History is easy to
public. perceive as only words on a page and it is easy
27 Grove. Interview by Conrad Wood. 1992

28 Helen Constance Cousins. Interview by Conrad Wood. 1996.
2023 - Issue 1 • 15
to forget that real people lived through these Jennings, Humphrey, and Harry Watt, dirs.
real life experiences. The field of military history 1940. London Can Take It. Film. United Kingdom:
would benefit greatly by expanding into how the Warner Bros.
people experienced and felt, not just what they
did. This opens up a rich perspective and gives a Lt. O’Brien. 1944. H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL
far greater understanding to history as a whole. VISITS MIXED HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY.
Whole:Nitrate. Imperial War Museum. Accessed
2LT Alex Angelopoulos graduated with honors from May 15, 2022 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/
Susquehanna University with a bachelor’s in History and a item/object/205511273.
commission through Bucknell ROTC. 2LT Angelopoulos graduated
ADABOLC in December 2022 and is currently serving with the Malindine, E.G., and A.J. Tanner. 1942. THE
108th ADA, 2-44, Fort Campbell, KY. AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE at an ANTI-
AIRCRAFT GUN SITE in BRITAIN, DECEMBER 1942.
Bibliography Photograph. Imperial War Museum. Accessed May
15, 2022 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/
AIR HISTORICAL BRANCH AIR MINISTRY. n.d. item/object/205188346.
“RAF NARRATIVE the AIR DEFENCE of GREAT
BRITAIN VOLUME Ill NIGHT AIR DEFENCE. Richardson, William. 1945. “IX Air Defense
JUNE, 1940- DECEMBER, 1941.” Royal Air Force. Command: Historical and Statistical Summary 1
Accessed May 15, 2022. https://www.raf.mod.uk/ Jan 1944- 1 June 1945.”
our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/
second-world-war-campaign-narratives1/. Shea, Rosemary Sylvia. 2001. Shea, Rosemary
Sylvia (Oral history) Interview by Conrad Wood.
Cousins, Helen Constance. 1996. Cousins, Helen Imperial War Museum. Accessed May 15, 2022
Constance (Oral history) Interview by Conrad https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/
Wood. Imperial War Museum. Accessed May 15, object/80019968.
2022 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/
object/80016226. Territorial Army, 9th Battalion (the Duke of
Cambridge’s Own) Middlesex Regiment. n.d. What
Crabtree, James D. 1994. On Air Defense. Are You Going to Do about It? Paper. Lithograph.
Westport, Conn.: Praeger. Imperial War Museum. Accessed May 15, 2022
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/
Ferris, John. “Fighter Defence before Fighter object/28150.
Command: The Rise of Strategic Air Defence in
Great Britain, 1917-1934.” The Journal of Military United States Dept. of the Army. 1943. “AR95-
History 63, no. 4 (10, 1999): 845-884. 5 Air Defense.” Accessed May 15, 2022 https://
morrisswett.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/
Gardner, James. n.d. A British Anti-Aircraft Battery p15766coll2/id/10084/re c/2.
in Action. Lithograph and Letterpress. Imperial
War Museum. Accessed May 15, 2022 https:// Van Voorhis, Westbrook. 1942. “The March of
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/10452. Time: When Air Raids Strike.” Newsreel Series.
Time Inc. Accessed May 15, 2022 https://video.
Greenwald, Bryon. “Learning To Fight From The alexanderstreet.com/watch/when-air-raids-
Ground Up: American Antiaircraft Artillery In World strike/transcript?context= channel:march-of-
War II.” On Point 24, no. 1 (2018): 36–45. time-y6.
Grove, Herbert Stanley. 1992. Grove, Herbert William Carrington Sherman, Wray R Johnson,
Stanley (Oral history) Interview by Conrad and Air University (U.S.). Press. (1926) 2002.
Wood. Imperial War Museum. Accessed May 15, Air Warfare. Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air
2022 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/ University Press.
object/80012296.

2023 - Issue 1 • 17
+
LEVERAGING
THE CLOUD
TO DEPLOY, FIGHT & WIN
By COL (R) Dave Shank
The IBCS provides a common mission command and sensor/weapon

integration network for all Army AMD echelons that improves protection
against threats in complex integrated attack scenarios. (Photo Credit:
Nathaniel Pierce, U.S. Army)

I
n an ideal warfighting environment, the the challenge of sharing critical information
Department of Defense joint forces’ integrated has become even more important since the
air and missile defense (IAMD) capabilities days of the Airland Battle doctrine to how the
would expand the globe providing a secure, cloud- fundamental principles adhered to today in
based architecture framework with an unlimited Unified Land Operations. From manned and
number of effectors. A series of microservices unmanned airframes to ballistic and cruise
would serve as the backbone to this network missiles to hypersonic, the ability to communicate
of layered, multi domain sensors and weapon through a series of voice and data messages in a
systems supported by a cloud environment, timely manner is critical to decision making and
capturing and filtering data at speed. Focusing defeating adversary capabilities. Undoubtedly
on a U.S. Army problem set, this article will these joint and multi-national communications
take a detailed look at the current U.S. Army networks must be resilient and secure, and
IAMD laydown using my company grade years of leverage present day technology such as cloud
service as examples followed by a more capable services in an effort to provide real time,
framework of an integrated, modernized air and actionable data at the tactical edge.
missile defense structure leveraging existing Army
cloud infrastructure; in essence, an evolution in As a company grade officer leading SHORAD
command and control. By decreasing the time formations, the priorities of ADA coverage were
and physical resources required, a secure cloud more often than not: maneuver forces, command
infrastructure will not only provide the speed of and control nodes, and logistical hubs. As a
information for leaders to act, but also provide platoon leader providing direct support ADA fires
a combination of human and technical means to a maneuver battalion/task force (BN/TF) and
to sense, make sense, and determine the best as a battery commander providing ADA fires in
possible outcome of a high demand, low density support of a brigade combat team (BCT), tactical
capability of critical air and missile defensive fires communications were always a challenge; the
(and protection in some cases) to defend maneuver greater the battlespace, the greater the challenge.
formations, semi-fixed, and fixed locations. As a platoon leader and battery commander, I
had between two to four Single Channel Ground
During the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I had the and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) in
privilege of serving in U.S. Army Short Range Air each of my vehicles (and command post as a
Defense (SHORAD) Artillery units responsible for battery commander). Monitoring a minimum
providing defensive fires in support of maneuver of four frequencies at each of these echelons is
formations; these included two divisions and challenging, and even more challenging when
an armored cavalry regiment. This is important data networks are part of the communications
to note because ultimately the kill chain was plan. Ensuring SHORAD assets are positioned
similar across all three organizations located on in accordance with the maneuver commander’s
three different continents. The threat (variety mission, intent, and directed ADA priorities was
of rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft) was paramount. In doing so, a constant flow of voice
fairly simple during this period, our weapon and data communications were necessary at all
systems and sensors were very capable (Stinger, times to ensure the right weapon system(s) was
Bradley, Patriot, and Sentinel), formations were positioned at the right time and location to defeat
commanded at the Battery level, and procedures any the enemy.
controlled at the Battalion echelon or higher; this
included both positive (e.g., positive identification As mentioned, a SHORAD battery commander
by way of systems or other identification by way of his tactical vehicle and command
capabilities) and procedural controls (e.g., airspace post (typically integrated with the maneuver
control measures such as coordinating altitudes). formation’s command post) is required to monitor
several voice and data frequencies. Data system
Communications in a tactical setting for ADA networks in this case include the Air and Missile
operations over extended ranges cannot be Defense Work Station (AMDWS), Forward Area Air
understated. Since the post-Vietnam War era, Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2), and
2023 - Issue 1 • 19
Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below contribution to the Department of Defense’
(FBCB2) later replaced by the Joint Capabilities Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2)
Release (JCR)) which is the ‘parent system’ to the concept, has been an annual experiment since
Blue Force Tracker (BFT). AMDWS and FAAD C2 2019 hosted by the Army Futures Command (AFC).
was configured and networked thru an internet In short, PC is intended to experiment and develop
protocol (IP) backbone, physically located in a capability to deter future adversaries during large
command post architecture (static), provided scale combat operations (LSCO). Directly focusing
a constant air picture. BFT, using a global on the Army ‘s six modernization priorities,
positioning system (GPS) established through AFC combines joint and multinational forces
satellite connectivity, enhanced situational while integrating both offensive and defensive
awareness at echelon across the battlefield capabilities across all domains to achieve
providing near real time status of both friendly overmatch.
Change is determining ways to leverage these legacy

systems to transform and modernization capability in a
multi domain and contested environment to be ready to
defeat any adversary in 2025 and beyond.
and enemy locations. AMDWS / FAADC2I is one Some of this recent testing and experimentation
of the U.S. Army’s legacy systems, derived from has included AFATDS in a cloud environment. Put
the Army Tactical Command and Control System simply, Cloud AFATDS (C-AFATDS) is the name of
(ATCCS) family of systems. Another system of the the currently fielded version of AFATDS within a
ATCCS family of systems is the Advanced Field virtual machine vice the standard ‘miltope’ laptop
Artillery Tactical Data that is issued and used throughout the Army
today. Through continuous experimentation,
System (AFATDS). The AFATDS is used to C-AFATDS has been tested during a number of
support field artillery planning, coordination, theater level and above exercises, the most recent
control, and execution of fires and effects; being PC-22. Additionally, 18th Airborne Corps,
this also includes the U.S. Navy’s long range three subordinate divisions, and 56th Theater
naval gunfire systems, close air support, and Fires Command in U.S. Army Europe have also
attack aviation. These two legacy systems, and recently experimented with C-AFATDS, embracing
a number of others require extensive manpower the speed, sustainability, resilience and agility of
and resources to maneuver, position, and emplace, this capability through continuous modernization.
to become operational. Couple these requirements In so doing, continuous modernization provides
with the technical expertise and time needed to an edge to cloud (E2C) infrastructure and services
enter the network architecture, and you have a to deploy a consistent cloud stack from the
pre-9/11 tactical recipe. In the words of former enterprise to edge nodes through the development
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, “you go of microservices to connect, enhance, and
to war with the Army you have.” That being said, modernize the deployed legacy applications.
change is a must now, and part of that change is
determining ways to leverage these legacy systems Like the testing, experimentation, and
to transform and modernization capability in a familiarization being accomplished with AFATDS
multi domain and contested environment to be in a cloud environment, the opportunity to do the
ready to defeat any adversary in 2025 and beyond. same with AMDWS exists. Placing AMDWS in a
cloud framework will have no impact to other
Project Convergence (PC), the Army’s existing systems, and place emphasis on the

benefits of using cloud as a service while
vastly speeding up both voice and data
communications, and providing leaders
at echelon the information, intelligence,
and decision space required to make sound
and timely decisions. E2C, as mentioned
Read.
above, is an infrastructure ecosystem which
unites the hardware, software, and cloud to
securely connect sensors, mission software,
services, and data via vendor- interoperable
infrastructure aiding in bridging the
gap between legacy systems and new
capabilities across diverse environments.
Write.
Leveraging recent and ongoing experiments
and exercises, combining legacy systems
with modernized capabilities in a cloud
environment will afford Army senior
leaders to focus in greater detail on joint
and multinational offensive/ defensive
integration of fires, ultimately bringing
Photo-
the effects necessary to deter and when
required, defeat an adversary.
In conclusion, it is time to begin testing

and experimenting with AMDWS in a cloud
graph.
environment, moving away from the legacy
ways aforementioned during my company
grade years. By doing so, this will enable
the rapid deployment of legacy systems and
applications, extending capabilities by way
of microservices in an effort to enhance
the command, control, and coordination of
ADA formations throughout the battlespace.
It will allow users to leverage developed The
microservices and build a pipeline of AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY JOURNAL
information at speed from the enterprise is the premier publication of the Air Defense Artillery!
Stay informed and up-to-date on your profession.
cloud to the edge providing a more resilient,
sustainable, and survivable capability. This ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER
speed of data, intelligence, and decision by staying informed, reading and writing for
making is exactly the recipe needed to a widely-distributed, official US Army publication!
continue to maintain pace with evolving
Take a great picture while out in the field?
adversarial capabilities while operating LIKE TO SEE IT PUBLISHED
in challenging, and at times, contested in magazine-quality color? Submit your charts, photographs
environments. and other support images with your article!
COL (R) Dave Shank currently serves as an independent Consider adding PUBLISHED AUTHOR to your resume!
consultant supporting integrated air and missile defense For submission deadlines and writing guidelines, contact
programs and initiatives. During his career, he served in ADA PAO Amber Osei at: [email protected]
every ADA leadership position from Platoon to Army Air
and Missile Defense Command. His last assignment was
at Fort Sill, OK, as the sitting ADA Commandant.
2023 - Issue 1 • 21
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11 th
ADA BDE Leads the Way with
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Tactical Data Link University

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By CW3 Travon Graves
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A
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rmy Air Defense Artillery brigades continue to face significant
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challenges synchronizing training across the brigade, Army
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Air and Missile Defense Command and installation. A well-
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developed training initiative increases combat effectiveness by
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producing safe, proficient and flexible Soldiers who can operate and
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win on the battlefields of today and tomorrow. With the creation
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and implementation of Tactical Data Link University, the Imperial
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Brigade is now able to foster an effective training environment within
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the brigade and continue to extend our influence across the AAMDC
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and the installation. During FY22, the Imperial team coordinated and
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executed a series of tactical data link training events that included
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elements from the 1st Armored Division, 32nd AAMDC, and units
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organic to the 11th ADA BDE. These events are aimed primarily at
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14-series Soldiers and leaders as it is an Air Defense-driven glide
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path. Still, it was necessary to incorporate maneuver elements into
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the training with the resurgence of large-scale combat operations.
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Left: CW3 Travon Graves, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Systems Integrator, is pictured teaching the basics of communication
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troubleshooting in his Tactical Data Link University class. Center: Tactical Data Link University students from 1st Armored Division, 32d
Air and Missile Defense Command, and 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade are pictured learning about establishing a secure connection.
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Right: Tactical Data Link University students from 1st Armored Division, 32d Air and Missile Defense Command, and 11th Air Defense
Artillery Brigade gather for a picture upon completion of the challenging course. (Photos by 1LT Mariah Love, HHB 11th ADA BDE)
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Train as You Fight the evolving, complex warfighter environment.
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The more units incorporate digital sustainment
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TDL-U arrived through the 11th ADA BDE initiatives such as TDL-U into their training
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commander’s priority to train as you fight. Often glide paths, the better prepared that organization
within the ADA ranks, our command post nodes will be to integrate into a joint, interagency,
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are not properly trained and lack the emphasis intergovernmental and multinational
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necessary to mitigate training barriers. Such is environment. The 11 ADA BDE witnessed the
th
the observation throughout Patriot organizations benefits of utilizing TDL-U during Roving
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wherein Soldiers within the Tactical Control Sands 22, one of the most extensive CONUS
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Stations and battery command posts are often Air Defense-centric exercises. During Roving
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task-saturated with requirements outside their Sands, the Patriot units who had completed
organic job responsibilities. This issue, coupled TDL-U were noticeably more effective and
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with a vague understanding of interoperability, efficient in executing Air Battle Management
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leads to insufficiently trained CPs. Based on these and establishing and maintaining tactical
observations, the 11th ADA BDE Air and Missile data links. It is critical to note the focus of
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Defense Systems Integrator incorporated a series the fight is not solely on tactical data link-
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of training seminars and opportunities to fill equipped systems but a fight to ensure ADA units
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those training shortfalls. The training focused maintain the requisite knowledge to exploit their
mainly on integrating tactical data links and organic capabilities regarding mission command
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mission command information systems. information systems.
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Additionally, the training extended hands-on Summary
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experience of legacy tactical data links such as
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Tactical Data Information Link J or Satellite. SAT During subordinate units’ evaluations, the
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J is a protocol primarily used by the U.S. Navy BDE AMD Systems Integrator saw firsthand
in maritime operations but still relevant to the an increase in operator proficiency. TDL-U
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U.S. Army platforms in a joint environment. Air also provided more contacts to Air Defenders
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Defenders often deploy to joint environments considering transitioning into the Warrant
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that are difficult to replicate in garrison. With the Officer Cohort. The 11th ADA BDE 140A also
Army’s Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT), noticed a direct correlation between TDL-U
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the 11th ADA BDE could extend its tactical network implementation and an increase in packet
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to facilitate a lab environment for Soldiers submission for 140A. Several potential 140A
to practice operating within a live network. candidates felt after participating in TDL-U,
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GAIT was established to facilitate distributed they were more engaged in their job and wanted
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mission command for Army organizations to help to pursue more opportunities for responsibility.
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establish a “train-as-you-fight environment.” It This article aimed to share lessons learned from
is critical that units exploit all available resources 11th ADA BDE during our recent Roving Sands
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such as GAIT, home station mission training 2022 iteration and highlight the TDL-U digital
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center capabilities, and units available across sustainment initiative. Interoperability and the
the installation. pursuit of shared situational awareness will
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continue to be integral to the 11th ADA BDE’s
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Fight to Train ability to fight and win. The proper integration
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of TDL-equipped systems and missile and space
Without a replicated home station training intelligence training can dramatically impact
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experience, ADA BDEs and subordinate units operations at the BDE level and beyond.
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would continue laboring through training
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roadblocks that degrade the graduate level of CW3 Travon Graves is currently the 11 ADA BDE 140A Air and
th
mastery that the Imperial Brigade is pursuing. Missile Defense Systems Integrator. Before joining the Warrant
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Commanders must understand the importance Officer Corps in 2014, Graves was a 14S Air and Missile Defense
Crewmember. He became a 140A due to his interest in tactics
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of fighting to train, along with the second and and desire to have more impact.
third-order effects of not training to support
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1011100001100011010001011100001100011010001011100001100011010001011100 2023 - Issue 1 • 23
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10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command
ANSWERS THE CALL
MAJ Justin Ruholl and LTC Rosanne Clemente
W hen Russian forces invaded Ukraine

in February 2022, Partners and
Allies across Europe looked to the United
States to lead the response to Russian
“The expertise aggression. As it became clear that the
U.S. would spearhead efforts to support
and professionalism
Ukraine with lethal aid and critical supplies
demonstrated by through logistical transfer hubs in Poland,
our ADLT’s has been senior leaders recognized that these pre-
invaluable to reassuring staging locations would become high-
our Allies and Partners.” value targets. To bolster confidence in the
alliance, reinforce U.S. commitment to
Allies and Partners, and protect equipment
– BG Barnett, and personnel, U.S. European Command
10th AAMDC Commander leaders called upon the 10th Army Air and
Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) to
defend key logistics and support areas from
enemy air and ballistic missile threats.
Team 10 envisioned three key

components critical to mission success.
First, Air Defense Liaison Teams (ADLT)
pushed forward into Poland, Romania,
and Slovakia proved to be vital to the
success of integrating air defense capability
along the Eastern Flank. Second, planners
from across the Joint Force and the NATO
alliance established a joint kill chain and

integrated various air defense systems built upon a spilling over into NATO countries. Partner nation
robust communications and data link architecture. engagement and planning required a balancing act
Finally, logistics and movement control teams were of deploying both US and host nation military assets
instrumental in coordinating and synchronizing along the Eastern Flank while simultaneously
the movement of all equipment into multiple operating under each country’s peacetime laws
positions located in various NATO countries along and civilian control. As in most countries, laws
the Eastern Flank. and regulations for civilian air control authorities
are not postured to support military operations.
Air Defense Liaison Teams Host nation civil laws severely restrict the use of
UAS and often fail to address the use of kinetic
Multiple capabilities were identified as essential and non-kinetic cUAS capabilities. Additionally,
to establishing layered air defense protection of host nation civilian air authorities do not have
designated defended assets. Counter-unmanned the processes or means to divide the air space to
aerial system (cUAS) systems – which have support military Airspace Control Measures (ACM)
never operated in EUCOM before – and short or clear airspace promptly to enable air defense
range air defense (SHORAD) systems were engagements. The initial and most pressing
integrated into the defense design to provide objective of the ADLT was to coordinate with U.S.
low level detection and engagement capability of Embassy and host nation civilian and military
enemy UAS and aircraft. The U.S. Patriot weapon authorities to develop bilateral agreements to allow
system provided an additional layer of cruise the deployment and operation of U.S. cUAS and
missile and tactical ballistic missile defense. air defense systems. These bilateral agreements
Recognizing that agreements would require a included the use of host nation land for U.S.
special team to adjudicate on behalf of the U.S. unit positions, identification and engagement
government, the 10th AAMDC created three Air authorities, use of military capabilities in civilian
Defense Liaison Teams (ADLT) consisting of air airspace, rules of engagement (ROE) to include
defense officers and planners, Judge Adjutant self-defense, reporting requirements, the host
General (JAG) officers, and Air Force planners nation’s responsibilities to support U.S. units, and
with expertise in air defense capabilities, policies the development of a shared common air picture
and legal authorities, and command-and-control to coordinate engagements.
systems. Each team traveled to Poland, Romania,
and Slovakia to connect with representatives from Implementing a Joint Kill Chain
the host nation’s Ministry of Defense, Air Force, and a Data Link Architecture
Army, and Civilian Aviation Authority. All teams
were charged with establishing relationships and As NATO forces rushed to the flank, air defense
developing the policies and agreements required to planners led efforts to build the joint kill chain
deploy and operate various air and missile defense for each country hosting any air and missile
systems within their respective countries. defense systems. Significant efforts went into
establishing the voice and digital means by which
The ADLTs spent weeks in their respective an air defense unit coordinates the identification
countries working with the military, government of an unknown track and receives the command
and civilian authorities to establish the agreements to engage a target as a part of the joint kill
that would allow the US air defense units to operate chain. Furthermore, planners needed to develop
in their countries. military air space control measures inside civilian
apportioned airspace to clear, de-conflict, and
Team 10 faced a major challenge to deploy air coordinate potential aerial engagements. As the
and missile defense assets across NATO countries conflict in Ukraine progressed, U.S. planners and
while under peacetime conditions. Russia had not NATO Allies confronted challenges in new and
directly threatened military action against any creative ways by working through each country’s
sovereign nation other than Ukraine. European distinctive policies and authorities. Some countries
political leadership cautiously assessed Russia’s deployed air defense capabilities under a NATO
next moves and did not want to risk the conflict command and control structure like in Slovakia
2023 - Issue 1 • 25
while others established multilateral agreements as commercial fiber optic connection for units in
was done in Poland between U.S., U.K., and Polish Poland which significantly improved track quality
air defense units. If rules of engagement were more and expanded bandwidth on the deployed data
restrictive in certain countries, the authorities link and communications network.
for an engagement were held at a higher level
and lengthened the time to communicate and Tactical Data Link and Communications
adjudicate a track within the established joint professionals also focused on spectrum
kill chain. management due to the heavy use of frequencies
for radars and air defense communications
Overall, the efforts of the ADLTs established a equipment. Host nations must ultimately approve
new standard for deploying to Ally and Partner and provide these frequencies at the international
nations and develop bilateral and multi-lateral level. The 10th AAMDC G6 Spectrum Management
agreements enabling air defense operations. Office (SMO), with support from USAREUR-AF G6
Ultimately, the teams established technical and SMO, was able to request and provide over 200
procedural interoperability, reporting procedures, radio and radar frequencies to support operations
and command chains to provide tactical units on the Eastern Flank. During a stressful period of
the guidance they needed to conduct operations. high operational tempo to push units into position
Throughout the deployment, ADLTs continued to along the flank, the collaborative efforts of the
work with Polish, Romanian, and Slovakian leaders Signal Community ensured consistent and reliable
to further refine how the U.S. units defend critical communications throughout the deployment and
assets within their countries. continues today over a year later.
A secure and reliable data link and Logistics and Sustainment

communications architecture is critical to creating
a shared air picture and providing early warning In order to maintain operations, transportation
to all NATO Allies and Partners. Team 10’s tactical of equipment and personnel was crucial to success.
data link experts and G6 personnel tirelessly 10th AAMDC logistics and sustainment elements
worked alongside U.S. Army Europe – Africa played a vital role in the short-notice deployment
(USAREUR-AF) communication professionals to of air defense assets to protect key logistics
tackle the link architecture problem resident in all hubs and command and control nodes along the
three locations. Technical solutions were unique flank. The G4 Mobility team worked with higher
to the different countries. Data link subject matter echelons to secure 24 strategic airlifts for the
experts worked to identify options for connecting Patriot Minimum Engagement Packages (MEP)
various systems within each country and establish and four strategic airlifts for Patriot munitions
the means of making all the systems “talk,” within 72 hours of notification. The mission also
eventually leading to a robust network that created required utilizing 483 commercial line haul assets
a combined Common Operational Picture (COP) to move 503 pieces of general cargo rolling stock,
for all organizations. sensitive items, and HAZMAT from the point of
origin to the final destination across three various
The 10th AAMDC G6 worked closely countries.
with USAREUR-AF G6 and the 2nd Theater
Signal Brigade (TSB) to establish redundant Throughout all phases of the deployment, the
communications plans for subordinate units 10th AAMDC G4 exercised numerous logistical
positioned along the Eastern Flank. Team 10 initiatives to improve the readiness posture and
leaned heavily on external communications support standards of living for the Soldiers. In coordination
and self-procured communications systems to with USAREUR-AF and 21st Theater Support
ensure data was shared among a multitude of Command, Team 10’s G4 successfully deployed
systems and sensors while effectively managing the 5-7 ADA Supply Support Activity (SSA) from
spectrum frequencies to deliver the air picture to all home station to the deployment site where they
participants. As the communications architecture served as the initial reception and transfer point
matured, the Signal community introduced a direct of all lethal aid to Ukraine. Additionally, the SSA’s

forward deployed Additional Storage Lines (ASL)
drastically reduced Customer Wait Times for the
Patriot units and 17 other external customers.
The last year has proven to be both historic and

extraordinary for the 10th AAMDC. As U.S. European
Command’s theater air and missile defense leader,
Team 10 answered the call to defend critical assets
and protect U.S. and partner nation maneuver
units against any enemy air and ballistic missile
threats. The Leaders and Soldiers in the organization
faced many challenges requiring professional
performance in a manner outside the normal scope
of their duty descriptions. While the mission along
the Eastern Flank continues, the impact of the
ADLTs, communications professionals, and logistics
planners endures in the established policies, joint
kill chain, link architecture, networks, and logistics
nodes. 10th AAMDC and its units stand ready to
provide the best air and missile defense capabilities
to the Joint Force and the NATO Alliance – Team
10 will always Answer the Call.
“Shield of Victory”
MAJ Justin A. Ruholl is a native of Dietrich, Illinois. He attended
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and earned a degree
in Criminal Justice and commissioned in June of 2007. Since then he’ s
been assigned to several duty stations to include, Fort Liberty, NC, with
the 1-7 ADA and returning from CCC Fort Sill, Oklahoma to be with the
3-4 ADA, Fort Leonard Wood as a writer and obtained Instructor of the
Year in 2017, 6-52 ADA, 35th ADA, & 10th AAMDC. MAJ Ruholl holds a
Master in Military Operational Arts and Science. MAJ Ruholl’s military
decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation
Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas
Ribbon w/2, Meritorious Unit Citation Award, German Proficiency Badge
and the Air Assault Badge.
COL Rosanna M. Clemente is a first generation Filipino-American

born and raised in northern New Jersey. She graduated from the United
States Military Academy in 2002 with a degree in U.S. History and was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Branch
of the U.S. Army. She graduated from the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery
Officer Basic Course (SHORAD Track) at Fort Bliss, Texas in 2003. She
also holds a Masters of Military Science Degree in National Security and
Strategic Studies and graduated from the Maritime Advanced Warfighting
School at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 2013.
In 2022, Ro graduated from the U.S. Army War College and received a
Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies with an area of concentration in
the Advanced Strategic Art Program. Ro has held unit leadership and
command assignments from the platoon to the battalion level. She was
one of the first female short-range air defense officers specializing in
the Avenger and STINGER missile weapons systems before transitioning
to the PATRIOT missile defense system. Deployments include Iraq and
Afghanistan. She has held the positions of Commander (Patriot Battery),
OPs, Director C-IED, JIDO Chief and in July 2022 was assigned to the 10th
Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Sembach, Germany where
she currently serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff for G3-Operations.
2023 - Issue 1 • 27
Military Personnel Exchange Program
By 1LT Mariah Love
Left: CPT Travis Vaughn of 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, who is currently serving as the
Air Defense Exchange Officer with the Netherlands’ Ground-Based Air Defense Command.
Right: MAJ Nick HoetJes of the Netherlands’ Ground Based Air Defense Command is currently
serving as the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Deputy Brigade Operations Officer and
Foreign Exchange Officer. (Photo by 1LT Mariah Love, HHB ADA BDE)
T
he Military Personnel Exchange Program Dutch military, Vaughn says, “Primarily, I
is a one-for-one exchange of personnel am responsible for planning and supervising
between allied countries. This program brigade-level Patriot exercises for the GBADC.
was established to build and maintain positive Whenever necessary, I work to ensure shared
relationships between coalition partners and understanding between the GBADC, U.S. Air
allies. A successful exchange partnership will Defense Artillery units and U.S. embassy
enhance relationships between militaries and personnel.” Here at Fort Bliss, the current
prepare participants for multinational operations. Foreign Exchange Officer, MAJ Nick HoetJes, from
the Royal Netherlands Air Force, is serving as the
The 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade has Brigade Deputy Operations Officer. In addition to
proudly participated in the MPEP since its start typical duties of a Deputy Operations Officer like
in 1996. Currently, CPT Travis Vaughn of the 11th writing orders and planning exercises, HoetJes
ADA BDE serves as the Foreign Exchange Officer says, “I am always looking for opportunities to
with the Ground-Based Air Defense Command conduct joint training whether it be with my
in the Netherlands. While working with the home country or another foreign ADA unit. I

am the lead for foreign relations, so my main different mindset regarding joint operations, he
objective is to better understand and utilize struggled with the difference in tactics, “I would
other militaries’ capabilities and maintain say that my biggest challenge was becoming
international relationships.” familiar with NATO-centric planning processes
found within the Dutch military. Understanding
Both officers had the opportunity to plan and the roles and outputs of various syndicates and
execute joint, large-scale operations during control groups added a layer of complexity that
their time abroad. For HoetJes, “I arranged I did not anticipate.”
for my brigade to participate in Roving Sands
2022 with 11th ADA BDE, but, unfortunately, Upon completing this two-year assignment,
they had to deploy a few weeks before due to HoetJes will assume the equivalent of battalion
a real-time mission. It was a higher priority, command, and he plans to integrate a few
but I am hopeful that we will conduct Operation American military practices into that command.
Shining Star exercise again with the Japanese, “You have a set battle rhythm every week,
Dutch and American Air Defenses soon.” Vaughn like Maintenance Monday and Leader’s Time
completed several joint operations with another Training Thursday. It may feel tedious at times,
operation on the horizon, “Over the summer, but Soldiers know exactly what is expected of
I participated in a binational Patriot live fire them. I think that is valuable and will try to
exercise at the NATO Missile Firing Installation. integrate that into my command.” After Vaughn’s
My colleagues and I are currently preparing for experience with GBADC, he plans to incorporate
Joint Project Optic Windmill in spring 2023. One lessons he learned about collaboration, “Military
of the most obvious differences between Dutch culture in the Netherlands prizes collaboration
and U.S. Army operations is the strong focus at all levels regardless of rank. I think it is
on building interoperability during certification important to remember that the quality of
events like the live fire.” someone’s feedback is not a function of their
rank. The Dutch military demonstrates this
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is comprised constantly; that is certainly something I will
of 6,500 active-duty Soldiers, with about work to emphasize in my future positions.”
800 of those making up the ADA branch.
The Netherlands’ ADA branch is organized HoetJes applied for the MPEP because he
differently: Short Range Air Defense is in the wanted to grow both as a person and a Soldier.
Army, while High to Medium Air Defense is in “I wanted the experience of living abroad and
the Air Force. Vaughn says that the U.S. Army’s serving in a much larger Air Defense Artillery
size can be an advantage and disadvantage, “I’ve community. I knew there were valuable lessons to
come to realize that the size of the U.S. Army be learned by integrating into a different military
has clear advantages in warfighting capability, and culture.” Vaughn applied for the cultural
but it also impacts our implicit attitude toward experience and opportunity to represent his
interoperability and integration with partner country. “If you have an interest in immersing
nations. Nations like the Netherlands are yourself in another culture and becoming more
proficient in these tasks because multinational knowledgeable about multinational operations,
integration is often a necessity, and the I highly recommend applying for any exchange
importance of maintaining these unit-to- position. As an exchange officer, you’ll be viewed
unit relationships is obvious.” The size and as a U.S. Army representative first and an Air
operational style of the Dutch military compared Defender second.” Both officers have greatly
to the American military is vastly different. enjoyed their time in the MPEP. To American
When asked what challenges HoetJes faced and Dutch Soldiers interested in MPEP, HoetJes
integrating into a different military, he said, simply says, “Do it. It is the experience of a
“The biggest growing experience here has been lifetime.”
the planning scale that you have to work on;
it still baffles me. I look out my office window 1LT Mariah Love graduated from Cedarville University in 2019
with a Professional Writing and Information Design degree. She
here and see two battalion motor pools that
is a former 14A Air Defense Artillery Officer who served as the
would comprise all the Netherlands’ air defense 11th ADA BDE Public Affairs Officer.
capabilities.” Vaughn found that in addition to a
2023 - Issue 1 • 29
Engagement Operations Center
Modernization and Mobility
By LTC Trey Guy and 1LT Ian R. Stanford
T
he Engagement Operations Center is counterinsurgency operations to Large-Scale
the command-and-control node for Combat Operations, mobility stands at the
all indirect fire protection capability forefront of modern warfare. Reforming IFPC
operations. EOCs utilize a wide array of systems for the increased lethality and mobility
equipment to intercept rocket, artillery and in LSCO environments is vital. It is common
mortars; counter-unmanned aerial systems and practice for garrison units to establish EOCs in
provide sense and warn capabilities in support non-hardened structures, such as Deployable
of critical asset protection. Rapid Assembly Shelters, presenting unique
challenges not faced in a deployed environment.
For over a decade, deployed IFPC EOCs In their current configuration, IFPC units are
have been housed in makeshift structures, incapable of sustaining the operational tempo
improved and hardened over time while required in LSCO warfare. In preparation for
protecting vital static locations throughout future LSCO operations, the onus is on the Air
the United States Central Command region. Defense Artillery Branch to adapt to the modern
As the Army shifts its primary focus from battlefield. 

Two potential solutions exist and are already enhances an IFPC unit’s ability to provide quick
used by a myriad of Army units. The M1078 sense and warn capabilities to any supported
Expandable Van Shelters (See Appendix 1) and unit, increasing the ground commander’s
the Army Hardside Expandable Light Air Mobile overall awareness and ultimately creating a
Shelter systems (See Appendix 2) provide the force multiplier.
necessary capability to modernize IFPC EOC
operations for future combat. Utilization of either The Army Hardside Expandable Light Air
of these systems would not only enhance our Mobile Shelter system was previously utilized by
mobility and the survivability of our Soldiers IFPC units in Iraq and Afghanistan when hardened
and equipment but would also allow our crews structures were unavailable. The Army HELAMS
to train as we fight. Reconnaissance, Selection system can be towed with the appropriate wheel
and Occupation of Position, followed by site accessory kit or transported utilizing M1120
setup and Full Operational Capability, could be HEMTT Load Handling System vehicles. The
standardized across the Air Defense Artillery HELAMS is a mobile hardened structure providing
Corps through the adjustment of equipment. ample space for all necessary EOC equipment,
Introducing the M1078 or HELAMS shelters to internal environmental controls and increased
an IFPC Battery would also enhance training as protection for equipment against inclement
the EOC can be driven to any location and would weather damage. The M1078 Expandable Van
give units the flexibility to execute training and Shelter and the Army HELAMS system provide
certification in any weather at any time, with increased benefits and protection to equipment,
reduced risk of environmental damage.  personnel and operational capability.  
Utilization of either of these systems would not only enhance our mobility
and the survivability of our Soldiers and equipment but would also allow
our crews to train as we fight.
The main purpose of a DRASH tent for The addition of an M1078 Expandable Van, at
IFPC operations in a field environment is to approximately $455,000 per unit, will decrease
provide housing in support of environmental the year-to-year maintenance costs associated
control regulation for EOC equipment. The with EOC operations, resulting in less damage
M1078 Expandable Van Shelter or “expando from environmental conditions or transit and
van” would negate the need for DRASH tents. setup. This streamlined EOC setup and tear-down
Not only do DRASH tents prove unreliable at also create an incalculable number of man-hours
adequately protecting equipment from the saved. Furthermore, utilizing a lockable vehicle
elements in field environments, but DRASH in which equipment is stored and maintained
tents also take approximately 30 minutes to will improve overall command supply discipline
set up and tear down. Expando vans can be as the EOC operating through expandable vans
pre-configured with all necessary equipment would not require the removal and replacement
to provide a functioning EOC, cutting time to of equipment during transit and setup.  
approximately 10 minutes. With its expanded
capacity, it can easily accommodate a crew of The HELAMS system, at the cost of $170,000
four to six, depending on the configuration. per unit, would provide a substantially lower
With internal cooling and environmental control, initial bill and offer many of the cost-saving
all EOC electronics can be safely stored inside measures afforded by the expando van. The one
the expando van, bridging the gap between the major benefit of the HELAMS is its capacity to
hardened structures utilized in CENTCOM and be Sling Loadable — external transportation of
the light field tents utilized in garrison training. equipment by helicopter — the primary method
Additionally, expando vans have a mobility of equipment transportation in Air Assault
advantage over the current setup due to their Operations. Due to the HELAMS capacity for
ability to be air loaded with all essential EOC sling-load operations, some equipment would
components inside and ready to be connected require removal before the flight — sacrificing
once at its destination. This decreased timeline some of the benefits of pre-staged equipment.
2023 - Issue 1 • 31
}
The added benefit of sling loadable equipment
drastically increases the EOC’s capacity to
support Air Assault units and provides sense
and warn capabilities in farther-reaching and
more austere environments.
 
IFPC units face daily challenges in an ever-
changing environment. Any attempt to increase
operational capability, force readiness, training
value, and deployability must be evaluated to
further refine the protection of friendly assets
and the ability to engage threats in an LSCO
environment. While further consideration and
a full DOTMLPF-P breakout on the feasibility See Appendix 1
of M1078 Expandable Van Shelters or HELAMS
systems as a DRASH tent replacement is
warranted, one of these systems should be
fielded, for testing, at the earliest opportunity.
Application of lessons learned will increase
the ability of EOC crews to integrate in any
environment, at any time, faster and more
reliably. As Integration of IFPC units into the
maneuver force for training and deployment
becomes more commonplace, IFPC units’ ability
to keep pace with Brigade Combat Teams becomes
greater. Increased mobility enhances Soldier
safety and lethality. As new and advanced enemy
{
technology becomes more diverse, supported
units will reap the benefits of an integrated,
highly mobile EOC.
 
LTC Trey Guy received his commission through Virginia
Military Institute’s Army ROTC program in 2003, commander
of the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment and is
currently a student at the Army War College. He is a career Air
Defense Artillery officer and has served in a multitude of C-RAM
and SHORAD units as well as joint and combined assignments.
He is a proud and loving husband and devoted father of four. He
is active on Twitter @shoraddad.
1LT Ian R. Stanford received his commission through the

University of Utah’s Army ROTC program in 2020, the Adjutant
for 108th ADA BDE and is currently the Assistant S3 for 2nd Bn,
44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. His previous assignments See Appendix 2
include Counter-Rocket Artillery and Mortar Platoon Leader for
Alpha Battery, 2-44th ADA Battalion and EOC Battle Captain.
As one of 12 active-duty CRAM platoon leaders, Stanford was
an observer/coach trainer for the 1-101st Massachusetts Army
National Guard’s 2021 Mission Rehearsal Exercise. He is a proud
Air Defense Artillery Officer who pursues his intellectual curiosity
through professional reading, writing and travel.

APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2
M1078 Expandable Van Shelters Army Hardside Expandable Light Air

Mobile Shelter systems
Features:
Features: 
• Equipped with tie-down rings at four
upper corners • 2-Way Forklift-able 
• Securable interior emergency release • Rubber Membrane Threshold System 
built into double personnel door at • Transport by High-Speed Mobility
rear Wheel Set (not included) 
• 120/208V/3PH/100A/60Hz power • Removable Detent Rails for Air
distribution panel controls Transport 
permanently mounted 120V electrical • Rail Transport (Max 11,000 lbs.) 
outlets placed along walls • Tie-Down Rings (installed in floor) 
• Standard lighting package includes • 120-208VAC/3PH/60A/60Hz Power 
120V fluorescent lights and a 24VDC • 60A Input Power Connector 
emergency and blackout light system • 50-ft. Shore Power Cable Mates w/
• Expansible shelter for the Family Input (QTY 1) 
of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) • Ground Rod Kit (QTY 1) 
5-ton truck chassis  • Air Lift Certified (MIL-STD-913) Max
• The following are available options 15,000 lbs
will enhance this product: • Helo External Air Transport (MIL-
• Dehumidifier STD-913/209) Certifiable Max 13,240 
• Environmental Control Unit • Eight windows with blackout shade 
(ECU) • One removable winch assembly per
• Interior Workstations Interior side to lower the side wall assembly 
Cabinets • Four main leveling jacks and six side
• Interior Equipment Racks  leveling jacks 
• This product is capable of being • Mobility wheel set adapter provision 
transported by the following means: • Two Pallet Position when stowed 
• Land Vehicle • 100A/50-Ft. Long Shore Power 
• Cargo Ship • 100A/50-Ft. Long Slave Power 
• Rail • Aluminum Tread Plate 
• Internal Aircraft Transport • 42K BTU-Cool/18K BTU-Heat/Slide
(Requires Pallet, Net, Tie-Down In/Out 
Straps) • This product is capable of being
transported by the following means: 
• Internal Aircraft Transport
Certified 
• External Helicopter Sling
Certifiable 
• Land Vehicle 
• Cargo Ship 
• Wheel Set 
• Trailer 
• Rail 
2023 - Issue 1 • 33
on the ground and in the air on the future battlefield
as it has been in the past. 
Introduction
As LTG James Rainey said on Day Two of the 2021

Fire’s Conference, the ADA “branch is in a sort of
identity crisis.” It is amid this “identity crisis” that
has the potential to either make or break the branch
not only on the battlefield but also in the budget
rooms. Since the absence of a SHORAD branch has
led to a break in institutional knowledge of a critical
component of ADA, a reexamination of branch history
will give insights as to what knowledge might have
Figure 1: Fire Base’s ADA assets respond to an enemy night
been lost. A look at the history of the branch, one can
attack in Vietnam. see an exciting opportunity that has gone unrealized
for the past 20 years and, if recovered by the branch,
will guarantee not only the security of forces and
Air Defenders budgets but also a recovery of prestige that Air
Defenders have been seeking since it has been largely
are Force Protectors  forgotten in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). The
ADA branch has long had a “force protection” role
Rediscovering and Returning to Short Range it has been uniquely suited for, and as LTG Rainey
pointed out, Air Defenders need to “grab the role
Air Defense Historical Force protection Role  for the protection of the force” and “demand (our)
By 2LT Ian Murren seat at the maneuver table.” To properly fulfill the
“Protection” Warfighting function means not only
protection from air threats but also using SHORAD
SHORAD’s “Do or Die” vehicles cannons that have high caliber, high velocity,
and high rates of fire (the three highs) in the War
W
ith the proliferation of unmanned aircraft fighting function of “Fires” to engage and destroy
systems to state and non-state actors in the enemy ground threats. The added capabilities will
new era of warfare, Short Range Air Defense give broader flexibility to commanders to employ
will increasingly need to counteract this emerging ADA in two War Fighting Functions that no other
threat. Enemies, in the future, will use coordinated branch can provide. 
attacks with Class 1 or 2 UAS and ground units
against frontline and logistical areas. To counteract Historical Context
this, designs for SHORAD units need to have the Vietnam: The War that Made the Modern ADA Branch
capability to engage and defeat both types of threats
closely. Planners must consider the demands of urban Imagine the Americans at Fire Base Khe Sanh in
environments when designing SHORAD vehicles. 1968: being outmanned, outmaneuvered and out
To do so, ADA must design SHORAD vehicles with of options, forced to dig in their heels and dare the
cannons with the “three highs”: high caliber, high enemy to take the airfield from them. Those at home
velocity and high rates of fire. SHORAD vehicles had heard the stories of the hard-fighting Marines,
with the “three highs” will help accomplish the but few had counted on the Air Defenders. Few
primary task of defeating enemy air assets and had fought next to them, never seen a “Quad .50”
make the platform flexible enough to fulfill the force turn back an enemy assault or an M42 “Duster” rip
protection role SHORAD has historically occupied. apart an entire regiment of NVA in a matter of a few
Force protection can defend assets, equipment and minutes, but everyone who had seen them in combat
personnel from multi-dimensional attacks. ADA knew they were magnificent.
thrived when the force protection role was embraced
in SHORAD design during the Vietnam War. When the For months, Air Defenders such as 1LT Bruce
force protection role was largely ignored in SHORAD Geiger secured the firebase at Khe Sanh and the
design, specifically with the lightly armored Avenger surrounding areas. 1LT Geiger’s detachment of
vulnerabilities to small-arms fire, ADA suffered. “Dusters” armed with dual 40mm cannons positioned
Leaders must embrace the inherent Joint nature of in dug-in positions was instrumental in adding
ADA as it can be a potent force against targets both precision firepower to the apexes of the Khe Sanh

airfield. “Dusters” were not only used in base small-arms fire. Even the vehicle driver, as detailed
protection but in convoy protection too. Just down in SGT Joseph Belardo’s book “Dusterman,” in his
the road from Khe Sanh, a few weeks earlier, a supply relative safety inside the driver’s hatch, would often
convoy of Marines was ambushed along the route have to expose themselves to enemy fire to deliver
that connected Khe Sanh and other nearby firebases, reserve ammunition to the turret crew.  
like the regional command center at Camp Carroll,
along the Vietnamese DMZ. A Marine quick reaction As the name implies, the “Quad .50” was four M2
force, including two tanks, was dispatched to relieve .50 caliber machine guns put together in a turret
the convoy when suddenly the QRF became victim configuration and put on the back of a five-ton
of a second ambush. Camp Carroll was now under truck. While the “Duster” could trace its lineage
threat of being cut off, their QRF was in danger to the Korean War, the “Quad .50” could trace it
of being overrun, and whoever they sent out next back to WWII. The Army needed to defend their
would have to rescue two pockets of Marines. CPT motorized and mechanized formations with mobile
Vincent Tedesco and his compliment of “Dusters” air defense and mounted M2 machine guns onto M16
and “Quad .50s” pulled their vehicles off the line at halftracks. When Soldiers realized the potential of
Camp Carroll, rolled down to both sites, fought off four M2 machine guns suppressing and destroying
the enemy, and got everyone from both pockets back enemy positions, it became very popular with ground
before nightfall. What were these incredible machines forces. The configuration was so successful that it
of war that seemed to excel where others came short transitioned mostly unchanged, except for the half-
and what were they doing in Vietnam where there track replaced by five-ton trucks through the Korean
was no threat from the sky for the whole war? War and into the Vietnam War. 
So, what was ADA doing in Vietnam? Officially, to

combat possible low-flying North Vietnamese aerial
attacks on U.S. bases in South Vietnam. Though
that threat never materialized, the ADA batteries
that deployed to Vietnam found great success in a
force protection role assigned to guard convoys and
firebases. The combination of the overwhelming
fire of “Quad .50” and hard-hitting 40 mm cannons
from the “Duster” quickly gained a reputation as a
fearsome opponent to the insurgents. There were
some limitations with ammunition capacity, crew
exposure to enemy fire and the “Duster” struggled
in off-road missions. The “Duster’s” 14-year-
old design by the Vietnam War, though simple to
maintain by crews, had difficulties finding spare
Figure 2: M42 Duster on the move in Vietnam
parts. Nevertheless, Air Defenders were sought after
as force multipliers by Army and Marine bases across
The M42 “Duster” was an anti-aircraft turret with Vietnam to protect valuable assets. Air Defenders
duel Bofor 40 mm cannons mounted on a Bulldog allowed commanders to have a better economy of
tank chassis (a light tank meant to replace the Chaffee force and focus precious resources on other missions,
tank of WW2). Firing 240 rpm out of each gun of such as search-and-destroy. Leaders could rest easy
proximity fused rounds that detonate after impacts knowing their bases and convoys were well protected
at ranges beyond 88 feet. The “Duster” proved itself by their ADA units. 
not only as a devastating anti-air weapon but also as   
an excellent anti-personnel vehicle. The M19 (which Operation Iraqi Freedom:
had the same turret mounted as the “Duster” but on The War that Misunderstood Air Defense
a Chaffee chassis) had served in the Korean War in a
similar role but as the Chaffee was phased out, so was However, as the Cold War ended, the biggest threat
the M19. The “Duster” had a typical crew of seven to U.S. global air dominance was greatly diminished.
(one driver, one commander, one radio operator, one The responsibility for air supremacy could be entirely
gunner and two reloaders) and was rather cramped shifted to the Air Force, U.S. planners thought. The
and exposed in most cases. The small vehicle size, U.S. moved toward a predominant missile-based
open turret, and need to keep feeding the hungry system with the Avenger introduced in 1989. The
guns made the crewmembers dangerously exposed to main armament of the Avenger is two stinger missile
2023 - Issue 1 • 35
fire against the enemy while the rest of the convoy
escaped the “kill zone.”
High Velocity: Engaging airborne threats, it is

important to flatten the projectile’s trajectory in
flight. The high velocity not only flattens trajectory
but also reduces the amount of time air threats
can maneuver out of the way of a projectile. High
velocity also extends the guns’ effective range as
they can travel farther vertically before succumbing
to gravity’s pull.
High Rates of Fire: As any novice shooter knows,

The U.S. Army brings back it Avenger surface-to-air missile systems firing more rounds down range increases the
mounted on a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, commonly probability of hitting a target, especially fast-moving
known as the Humvee. (Photo: Georgios Moumoulidis: UAS Vision) targets. The ability to quickly gain fire supremacy
on a ground target, especially when the allied force
pods with a total capacity of eight missiles and a is ambushed, is key to regaining the initiative.
single .50 (12.7 mm) caliber machine gun with only Precious moments could mean the difference between
200 rounds. significant or no friendly casualties in sudden attacks. 
When Operation Iraqi Freedom began, especially The “Three Highs” rule is not definitive but instead
once the counterinsurgency operation started, supposed to inform the development of SHORAD
no air defense missions were left. SHORAD units vehicles on what has historically been successful. The
found it difficult to adapt their equipment to the “Quad .50” is an exception as it has a lower caliber
new environment of COIN and nation-building. and lower individual rate of fire per M2 than later
The Avenger turrets’ High Mobility Multipurpose ADA equipment; however, it makes up for it in an
Wheeled Vehicles were mounted on were too heavy impressive total volume of fire with four M2s. There
to up-armor in an environment quickly becoming is also an unmeasurable moral impact of both forces.
saturated with improvised explosive devices. There Seeing four .50 caliber machine guns concentrate
were attempts to adapt the Avenger with a “Heavy” on an enemy position has an infectious ability to
variant that exchanged one of the two missile pods convince friendly soldiers that they can win a fight.
for 500 more rounds of .50 caliber ammunition to Having a “Fire Dragon” evaporate comrades with
help return Avengers to the force protection role of thundering guns undoubtedly negatively impacts the
guarding convoys and bases. However, it was found psyche of an opponent’s disposition on continuing
that the new variant did not prove itself well in the an engagement. The conflicts of the future will also
new mission. Faced with shifting priorities and budget be broadcast on social media and other platforms.
cuts as the GWOT intensified, SHORAD units began The impressive firepower of cannons with “three
to see their numbers dwindle until the decision to highs” might also be able to improve morale on
dissolve all SHORAD units was made.  the Homefront when images of tomorrow’s “Fire
Dragons” filter back into people’s social media feeds. 
A Quick Aside on the “Three Highs” Vietnam versus Iraq: Comparison
While the “three highs” have been mentioned, While ADA equipment has been used in an anti-
there needs to be definitions and explanations for personnel role ever since it adapted machine guns to
why they are essential. The three highs refer to:   an air defense role in WW1, Vietnam and Operation
Iraqi Freedom were chosen to be examined because
High Caliber: SHORAD assets should have high they were both similar in the sense of being large-
caliber, usually above 20 mm, to engage air (especially scale COIN wars that consumed a generation of
armored Helicopters) and ground threat. 20 mm is American war planning and resources. So, why did
also larger than most mounted weaponry on vehicles the ADA branch fair so much better in Vietnam and
that rely on the .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2. The higher not Iraq despite both being chiefly COIN conflicts? It is
caliber brings extra firepower that can help suppress not the mission set, as both wars did not present any
or destroy enemy formations, especially when they air targets for their ground-based systems to engage
ambush scenarios. In Vietnam, ADA units protecting and saw ADA pressed into other force protection roles.
convoys were intended to lay down suppressive The most significant difference is the equipment and

how well it conformed to the principles of Air Defense. the open roads and Iraqi countryside. The Avenger
There are six: mass, mix, mobility, integration, turret did significantly limit the advantages of the
flexibility and agility. We can use some of these HMMWV platform with its awkward turret placement.
principles to judge the ADA platforms from both eras. The Avenger turret threw off the center of balance,
Integration and mass will not be compared as those making the platform have difficulty getting over
principles have more to do with how commanders inclines in terrain and issues with speed as the turret
use their force rather than comparing the platforms. substantially weighed down the system. Though
Survivability will also be added because, in the force mobility is not a strong suit of either ADA platform,
protection role, ADA systems should anticipate being this does not mean that systems like the “Duster”
closely engaged by enemy ground forces.  and “Quad .50” were not mobile enough for their
role. Though not exceptional for their speed, the
Mix Vietnam-era equipment was only attached to QRFs
if they could keep pace with other vehicles of the
Though in air defense, mix tends to refer to the time. Agility and mobility are essential though
ability to engage a mix of threats with a mix of understanding mobile needs to be put in context
engagement ranges, this mindset can be applied for the mission SHORAD systems are attached. If
to a force protection role as well. The “Duster” war planners of today are planning for the next large
and “Quad .50” brought their main armament and conventional land war, they should develop equipment
secondary weapons. Many “Duster” crews brought that can keep pace with the maneuver forces. FM
M60 machine guns to complement their heavier 40 3-01 specifically mentions the gap in capability in all
mm cannons, whose ammunition needed 88 feet ADA platforms to keep up with maneuver forces. The
between muzzle and target before the impact fuse mountainous jungle terrain of Vietnam allowed time
would activate. The mix of equipment and firepower for the “Dusters” and “Quad .50” to keep pace with
allowed independent ADA units to have a variety of the mobility of mechanized forces in a way that a
weapon systems to engage a variety of targets at fast-paced war of maneuver in the Northern European
various ranges.  plains would not have afforded either platform. 
In Iraq, however, the single .50 caliber machine Flexibility

gun left much to be desired as it could not depress
its gun far enough in specific positions to engage First, the Vietnam era with its complementing
ground targets. ADA units have little in the way of systems of the “Quad .50” and twin 40 mm “Duster.”
variety to fire at ground-based enemy personnel with The ability of ADA assets to adapt to various missions,
their system. Still, there was no easy way to adjust including base defense, convoy protection, and fire
the firing rate to conserve precious ammunition. The support in urban environments, gave commanders
Avenger utterly fails in having the “three highs” in great flexibility in utilizing ADA assets. The
this regard. While having a significant rate of fire combination of “Dusters” and “Quad .50s” was so
of 1200-1300 rpm, the Avenger’s single-stream 12.7 impressive the Marine Corps requested to “borrow”
mm round firepower is not much compared to the ADA units from the Army.   
Vietnam-era equipment. The “Quad .50”, though
having a lower of 575 rpm (as it was a different In the Iraq War, the experience was very different.
variant) on each of its guns, made up for what it Even after a new variant was developed, the Avenger
lacked in quantity totaling 2300 rpm with all guns system had great difficulty adapting to a convoy
blazing. The “Quad .50” could also overcome its protection role. The heavy turret made it impossible
smaller caliber, for ADA weaponry, with its volume to up armor the vehicle, like the other HMMWVS
of fire against ground and air targets.  were, without overloading the frame. The unarmored
HMMWVS were, therefore, vulnerable to not only
IEDs but also small arms attacks that could penetrate
Agility/Mobility the cabins of the system. The bulky turret and the
inability of the vehicle to depress its guns when
The HMMWV chassis is the superior system facing forward severely limited its ability to engage
compared to the aging tank and truck chassis used enemies. The designers had intentionally created
by the “Duster” in Vietnam. Though vastly different a dead space in front of the vehicle to prevent the
environments, deserts, and jungles are about as turret from accidentally shooting or damaging the
opposite as biomes get, the Vietnam-era vehicles crew or vehicle on which is was mounted. Also, the
usually clung to the single-lane roads. At the same minimal ammunition capacity, though an issue
time, the HMMWV had more flexibility to traverse for all ADA vehicles, was highly apparent, with an
2023 - Issue 1 • 37
average of only 200 – 700 rounds on the system. equipment could rely on some armor and its awesome
The vehicle must also be dismounted to reload both firepower to suppress the enemy, the Avenger boasted
the M2 machine gun and the Stinger pods. Limited neither of these advantages.  
engagement space and ammunition prevented this
vehicle from being widely utilized in any role outside Conclusion of Historical Analysis
of its narrow mission set.  
While capability gaps exist within both eras, the
Survivability more flexible, mixed and survivable Vietnam-era
equipment has the right ingredients for countering
Though survivability is not one of the AMD multi-dimensional threats. In this era wherein a
principles, it would be an oversight not to include it. force protection role of logistics, urban operations and
The “Duster” and “Quad .50” suffered from glaring firebases, the branch made a name for itself amongst
gaps in armor to protect its crew from ground fire. its peer branches. Focusing solely on the Air Defense
Though the Duster had a half-covered turret, most of roles led to the creation of the Avenger, which failed
the crew was exposed. Only the driver and commander to adapt, even when modified, to changing combat
seats were partially in the hull, only leaving the head conditions. Further evidence of success or failure can
exposed when their respective hatches were open. be seen in the interservice relationship regarding
Those in the turret had their torsos perpetually the air defense mission. The Marines relied on the
exposed. In the “Quad .50,” the crew fared worse as Army ADA components for their force protection.
the four reloaders in the bed of the truck were totally Through Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marines had
exposed, and only the gunner was partially exposed decided against adopting the Avenger in favor of
as he sat in the armored turret.   an organic LAV-AD that embraces the Air Defense
principles more closely. The LAV-AD could complete
The Avenger suffered from many of the same issues the same missions the Avenger could and in complex
as the “Quad .50” as there is very little armor protecting environments in a variety of roles. The LAV-AD also
the gunner and crew. However, the “Quad .50” had had eight stingers to complement its rotary 25 mm
a few advantages over the Avenger. The turret of an cannon, which could elevate higher than the regular
Avenger severely restricts the freedom of movement HMMWV weapon mounts, which is advantageous
of the gunner. With a very awkward plexiglass door to for engaging targets on steep angles in urban or
the operator’s cabin, The Avenger turret would prove mountainous terrain. LAV-ADs were used in urban
much harder to dismount than the open platform the operations, much like how the “Dusters” were used
“Quad .50” had, which crew members could jump off alongside Marines in the fight for Hue City during
if the turret area became too dangerous. Furthermore, the Tet Offensive.  
the driving compartment of a “Quad .50” truck had
been up-armored extensively to protect the crew inside ADA in Urban Environments
from being killed by small-arms fire. The Avenger Maximizing ADA as Force protection
system, due to its heavy turret and light HMMWV
chasse, could not be up armored. The Avenger promptly One of the unique capabilities ADA brings to the
became obsolete in the Iraqi theater, which quickly maneuver table is that it is one of the few branches
began increasing armor on everything from personnel that can operate and thrive in urban environments.
to vehicles. The practically unarmored Avenger could While the ADA in Vietnam is mostly remembered
not withstand even small-arms fire, let alone an for operating in environments surrounded by either
increasingly sophisticated IED threat. While the Vietnam jungle or elephant grass, ADA also proved itself in
The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or “Duster,” is an American armored light air-defense gun built for the United States Army
from 1952 until December 1959, in service until 1988. (Photo credits: Left, Mark Pellegrini, U.S. Army Ordnance Museum [Aberdeen Proving
Ground, MD] Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5; Middle: the Army Historical Foundation; Right: Bill Maloney, Pennsylvania Military Museum)

urban environments. In the battle for Hue City during the same path that led to the death throes of ADA
the Tet offensive, M42 “Dusters” were brought in branch funding that led to the dissolution of SHORAD
to provide fire support for Marines. The 40 mm units in the early 2000s. Instead of having funding
guns could suppress and kill enemies hidden in tall concentrated in Army ADA, it could be split, as it was
buildings with their streams of fire better than their in Iraq, between Army and Marine programs. The
cousin, the M48 tank. Another advantage is that M42 LAV-AD program was ultimately scrapped because
“Dusters” had to have a high gun elevation that could there were only 12 examples, and the Marines decided
be as high as 85 degrees, which proved extremely they needed more conventional LAVs to replace losses.
useful when shooting at the tops of buildings from An ADA budget split between two branches could
close or awkward positions.   not prevent the dissolution of SHORAD’s place on
the battlefield during the GWOT. Being sought after
ADA should absolutely embrace operating in urban in a force protection role secured not only funding
and complex environments in their force protection but also prestige, as ADA units were sought after
role. Whether in urban streets or on roads overlooked through much of the Vietnam War. Being appreciated
by cliffs, the unparalleled ability of ADA to put by fellow service members is extremely important to
effective fire on enemies perched above friendly maintaining high levels of morale and, accordingly,
forces is indispensable. The mounts on a vehicle combat readiness. 
such as the HMMWV only have a 53-degree elevation
is insufficient to engage enemies on higher floors, Conclusion
forcing their occupants to dismount to engage the
enemy with small arms. With the added risk of class The goal of any Air Defender is to protect its
1 UAS being used in urban environments, it will be assets. If an asset is destroyed by a clever ambush,
more important than ever to have ADA assets capable TBM volley or UAS, the mission fails. If the enemy
of operating there. During the battle of Mosul, Iraqi will be thinking with multi-dimensional attacks in
security forces were consistently harassed by UAS mind, combining UAS with ground-based ambushes,
that could drop munitions onto the thin armor of the should SHORAD designers not be thinking similarly?
tops of vehicles. With no way to counter the UAS and SHORAD equipment will need to be able to repel a UAS
their presence so frequent, often Iraqi forces would swarm attack and then the enemy’s complementing
become lackadaisical in seeking cover. Hostile UAS infantry assault in quick succession in the very near
will operate in urban environments and so should future. The conflict of tomorrow has no frontline,
SHORAD, as part of their force protection role.    friendly skies or single-dimensional. SHORAD has
thrived or died in this environment depending on how
Recommendations close it has kept to its Air Defense principles when
developing its equipment. If it designs, delivers, and
When designing an ADA vehicle, it is essential to deploys equipment that embraces the force protection
ensure a force protection role is also envisioned for role, it will secure its assets and budgets. The Air
the vehicle. Not focusing on this dual role shows a Defense principles and the “three highs” of having
lack of understanding of the history and principles of high caliber, high velocity, and high rates of fire
air defense. The ADA branch needs to take advantage provide guidelines for a successful SHORAD vehicle.
of its current prioritization by the Army to turn the There is little time to close the gap before the tides of
revival of SHORAD into a Renaissance. Successfully attention and budget priories shift to the next novel
taking back the force protection role will make other threat. The seeds of success must be planted and
branches realize the importance of ADA assets in the sowed now if we are to prevent a famine tomorrow.  
field and budgeting priorities for years to come. The
“Duster” was built starting in 1952, and it had to wait 1LT Ian Murren graduated from Gettysburg College Cum Laude
a decade to prove itself in the jungles of Vietnam. with a Bachelor of Philosophy and Political science, commissioning
from the Dickinson College Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
Commanders in Vietnam, both Army and Marine,
Murren graduated from Air Defense Artillery Basic Officers Leaders
understood how ADA units could be force multipliers Course in October 2021 and arrived at his first duty assignment at
on escort and base duties, maximizing the economy Camp Humphreys Republic of Korea as part of 6th Battalion, 52nd
of force. The ADA’s performance in such roles in Air Defense Artillery, a part of 35th Brigade. 
Vietnam won the respect of other branches opening
Acknowledgments 
the way for the branch to become independent in
I would like to take this time to personally thank COL (retired)
administration and funding from Field Artillery. Vincent Tedesco, LTC Hein, MAJ Joshua Urness, Dr. David Christensen,
and Joe Belardo for helping me with this paper. Thanks, as always,
  Failing to take advantage of this window of to my parents for being there for me. Lastly, Andrew and Jess, I
opportunity we have now will eventually lead down cannot thank you enough for those last-minute edits. 
2023 - Issue 1 • 39
Signalers Work to Change how
Air Defenders
Train, Certify and Fight
By MAJ Joshua Richey, CPT Charles Wilson,
CW2 Lucas Coffman and WO1 Alexis Martinez
A
s Signalers serving in an Air Defense Information Link (PADIL) to support passing
Artillery (ADA) unit, it has been an data internally (Figure 1).
eye-opening experience learning the
importance of Air Defense and how to plan for the While this training style provides Patriot units
unique assets that Brigades (BDE) have. Unlike the rinse-and-repeat training they have been
a typical Brigade Combat Team (BCT), ADA does used to for years, it doesn’t simulate the real-
not have any organic signal equipment but is very world fight they would traditionally see in the
network communications heavy organization. U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of
This has fallen on the communications subject Responsibility (AOR) or another future combatant
matter experts (SME) to come up with solutions commands. Updates to the current system, most
to bridge the gaps to provide the Air Defender significantly the Combined Crypto Modernization
with the means to certify crews and ensure they Phase 1 (CCMP 1), open the door to breathing new
are as prepared as we can get them. So, it starts life into the training conducted at home. 31st
with their training at home station and at the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade is looking
heart of that training, is how they communicate. at ways to squeeze every ounce of potential the
systems have to increase training value. They
Patriot units have traditionally relied on the currently look at this as a multi-phased process.
AN/GRC-245A radio at home stations as the The first step in that process is understanding
backbone of their communication infrastructure. what increased capabilities CCMP 1 provides.
Establishing ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio
links between their Information Coordination CCMP 1 provides routers and network
Central (ICC), Engagement Control Station (ECS), connections for all Patriot shelters, allowing
and Communication Relay Group (CRG), a Patriot unclassified and classified networks to be
unit can create their Local Area Network (LAN) connected to each ICC, ECS, and CRG. This
with their UHF links known as Patriot Digital network connectivity also allows for a Beyond-
Line-of-Sight (BLOS)
PADIL capability
enables Patriot units
that are geographically
disconnected to
share information,
commonly referred
to as PADIL over IP
(PoIP). Due to not
having any organic
communications
equipment to support
providing data and
voice capabilities in
Air Defense units,
PoIP has traditionally
only been used when
Figure 1 deployed forward.
This lack of organic

communication assets to provide a BLOS backhaul Sill Mission Training Center (MTC). During
solution has forced Patriot units to effectively fire Cumulative Training Event (CTE) 01-23, 31st
and forget the shelter configurations they use ADA successfully conducted a training scenario
deployed forward and revert to the home station that saw the Brigade HQ fight out of the Fort Sill
training configuration they’ve been accustomed MTC and its subordinate Battalions fighting out
to for years until they’re called upon once more. of the Brigade Operation Center (BOC), utilizing
tactical services along with the Joint Training
During Roving Sands ’22 at Fort Bliss, Texas and Experimentation Network (JTEN) simulation
3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment feed to mimic the geographical separation they
was able to lay groundwork for improving the face when deployed forward. The next phase was
future of Patriot training at the 31st Air Defense to determine how to provide the same realistic
Artillery Brigade by being the only ADA unit in training conducted during CTE to every Battalion
the training event to successfully push Secret during regular training events.
Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) services provided
by a Command Post Node (CPN) from 86th The current configuration Patriot units run
Expeditionary Signal Battalion over their UHF in their shelters only tap into a small portion
links. This allowed the subordinate Battery’s of its full potential. The current radio data rate
to connect and use SIPR services during the configuration of 1024 kilobytes per second (kbps)
exercise. Although successful, additional testing allows for 512 kbps for their PADIL traffic and 512
was needed to find the optimal balance between kbps of overhead bandwidth to provide the path
the amount of data passed over the UHF links, for their closed network IP services traditionally
without impacting the Patriot radar data, while used while training at home. The AN/GRC-245A
providing the maximum distance between Patriot radio in the Patriot shelters can establish links
assemblages for training purposes. Armed with with a data rate as high as 16,384 kbps providing
success from Roving Sands ‘22, the 31st ADA up to 34 megabits per second (mbps) of full
BDE took those lessons learned and attempted duplex traffic. Although the maximum operating
to increase the organization’s capabilities. distance of the radio is up to 40 kilometers
(KM), operating the radios at higher data rates
With the help of Global Agile Integrated requires shorter distances between Antenna Mast
Transport (GAIT), like many units, 31st ADA has Groups (AMG). Reconfiguring the radios to 8192
established its classified network infrastructure, kbps will allow the optimal balance between
often referred to as its tactical network or Archer maximizing the overhead bandwidth while,
Net. GAIT allows tactical units to access the although shorter than they’re used to, providing
greater Department of Defense classified network optimal distance between links for training. This
infrastructure and services with their organic increased overhead will allow Patriot units to
fielded equipment from
their headquarters
(HQ). Combined with
GAIT, units can host
and maintain the same
services traditionally
hosted by their local
installation Network
Enterprise Centers
(NEC) and provide
connectivity to Army
SIPR for their units.
31st ADA has utilized
its GAIT connection,
with help from the
local Fort Sill NEC,
to extend its Archer
Net into the Fort Figure 2
2023 - Issue 1 • 41
utilize their UHF links Air Defense Systems
to provide additional IP Integrator (ADSI)
services, such as Archer to provide real-
Net services hosted at time situational
31st ADA HQ, access awareness in the
to Army Enterprise AOR by integrating
Secret Internet Protocol sensors on land, air,
(SIPR) network via and sea sensors while
GAIT, and provide delivering enhanced
simulation data from control of tactical
the Reconfigurable units. Providing their
Table Top Trainer common air picture
(RT3) Lab at 31st ADA in alternate ways
HQ to the Battalion enhances the ability to
firing units (Figure 2). offer higher echelons
PFC Harry Feliciano 25H of HHB, 3-2 ADA works on setting up timely, accurate
To provide the the CRG for a pending certification exercise. Photo taken by CPL information to assist
Patriot Battalions with Yessenia Leahy 31st ADA BDE UPAR. decision-making. Since
access to Archer Net 31st ADA has enabled
in the training areas of Fort Sill, 31st ADA is the simulation feed to be fed into Command Post
utilizing fiber pedestals installed in designated Computing Environment (CPCE), the simulation
Training Areas (TA) as well as ingesting Archer feed from the RT3 lab would additionally reach
Net services into a CRG located at 31st BDE HQ, the firing units and ADSI. This allows for multiple
passing these services over the Patriot units avenues to view the air picture locally, and the
UHF links utilizing the additional bandwidth air picture can be fed to higher echelons via CPCE
overhead provided by increasing the data rate to provide Commanders with near real-time
of the AN/GRC-245A radios. Further testing is situational awareness.
required, but the goal is to increase bandwidth
to allow full SIPR connectivity, including email, With the potential increase in bandwidth, the
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and Global opportunity exists to apply additional internet
Video Services Video Teleconference (VTC) ability. protocol (IP) based services, specifically network
Along with SIPR services, 31st ADA is attempting monitoring. 31st ADA is building a Cyber Defense
to push simulation data from the RT3 lab at Initiative (CDI) to utilize better the Cyber Network
BDE headquarters over the UHF links and into Defenders assigned to the organization. The
the ECS shelters to provide a more realistic and Air Defense CDI aims to use the open-source
challenging training environment. software Security Onion to enhance network
monitoring. Security Onion is a network security
Once simulation data is verified to consistently monitoring suite that enables both proactive and
and reliably reach the ECS shelters, Flight Mission reactive monitoring of network devices; providing
Simulator/Digital (FMSD) will be installed in each situational awareness of network activity. The
firing units ECS to pull in the simulation feed and Security Onion suite of tools coupled with Assured
push it into the radars to enhance user training. Compliance Asset Solution (ACAS), which scans
The FMSD system provides real-time simulation devices for known vulnerabilities to ensure they
radar tracks to all Patriot radar systems within get mitigated appropriately, will provide both
the scenario. The FMSD provides Patriot crews a passive and active presence in Patriot Cyber
with a dynamic air battle that simulates the Security. By installing sensor nodes in either the
crew’s real-world scenarios and requires rapid ICC or ECS, Patriot units could be able to send
engagement decisions. This addition will allow active network monitoring data to help prevent a
the Soldiers to partake in rigorous training malicious attack. Using a simulated scenario, an
designed to stress their skills while providing insider threat were to gain access to the Patriot
an environment to perfect their skillset. systems and alter the azimuth information of
an incoming threat by 0.5 degrees without the
An Air Defense Artillery Brigade has the operator knowing there’s been any issue or

change. In that case, These changes would
the result could be the allow each unit to tailor
inability to neutralize their training to the
the incoming threat, specific environment
leaving the defended they are about to
asset open and encounter. Whether the
vulnerable to attack. unit will rely on UHF
That gap is what 31st links, be tied to a CPN
ADA is looking to team for backhaul, or
close at home, to take fibered into their PAT
forward to the fight. site, the ability to train at
home station and mimic
Providing Archer the situation down
Net and simulation range would be a first
services to Patriot for Air Defense. In lieu
units is only one SPC Jonathan Colon 25H of HHB, 3-2 ADA turns on all the radios of historical assessment
part of the hurdle in and equipment inside the CRG shelter for a pending certification methods, this enhanced
providing training exercise. Photo taken by CPL Yessenia Leahy 31st ADA BDE UPAR. capability package would
enhancements that also lead to changes in
mimic their real-world mission. The ability the way Patriot crews certify. The new crew
to simulate firing units being geographically certifications could require ADA crews to certify
dispersed communicating via PoIP is a long- based on the tailored operational environment,
term goal of 31st ADA. A potential solution to specific to mission variables and requirements
provide the ability to train via PoIP could be using allowing Air Defense to train as close as possible
Cradlepoint routers to tap into the surrounding to how they fight while deployed, something they
cellular network. Utilizing the ability to point have only been able to partially replicate due to
Cradlepoint routers together by creating a Virtual numerous limitations.
Private Network (VPN) connection, you could
connect a Cradlepoint to the signal entry panel MAJ Joshua Richey is a Signal Officer, currently serving as the
188th Infantry BDE, S6/Senior Signal OC/T. He previously served
of the Patriot shelters that connects to the KG-
as the 31st Air Defense Artillery Senior Signal Officer, 2d Security
175D encryption devices that are a component Forces Assistance Brigade and the Signal Company Commander
of the CCMP 1 upgrade. This would provide a for 5th Battalion, 2d Security Forces Assistance Brigade. MAJ
secure connection to a remote Cradlepoint at 31st Richey has deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Qatar as the Top
ADA HQ to allow access to Archer Net services. If Notch S6 for 32d AAMDC with 31st ADA BDE.
successful, this would enable the ability to provide CPT Charles Wilson is an Information Network Engineer
Archer Net services and simulation while allowing currently serving in the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade as the
the firing units to simulate being geographically senior Network Engineer. He has served in this position for over
dispersed, requiring them to establish their BLOS 4 years and previously served with 75th Field Artillery Brigade as
a Fire Support Officer. CPT Wilson has deployed to the CENTCOM
PoIP links to communicate.
AOR twice.
The level of advanced training would alter the CW2 Lucas Coffman is a Signal Warrant Officer currently
way large scale training events like Roving Sands serving in the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade as the Data
are executed. With a home station PoIP solution, Operations Warrant Officer. He previously served as the Automated
Information Systems NCOIC for 3d Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger
Patriot units at Forts Sill, Hood, Bliss, and Bragg Regiment and has deployed to the CENTCOM AOR twice.
could conduct large scale exercises from home
while receiving simulation feed that is being fed WO1 Alexis Martinez is a Signal Warrant Officer currently
into their ECS, and send their portion of the air serving in the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade as the Network
Operations Warrant Officer. He previously served as the Deputy
picture to higher HQ. This would open the door
Branch Chief for White House Communications Agency, Special
for more creative training at all levels that does Missions Command Network Management Center and has
not rely on all units being collocated to conduct deployed to the CENTCOM AOR four times.
operations.
2023 - Issue 1 • 43
Growing a Brigade:
Five Lessons Learned from Activating
a Next-Generation Combat Force
By MAJ T. Justin Webb
4444• •AirAir
Defense
Defense
Artillery
Artillery
Journal
Journal
“First, the importance of a comprehensive
strategic plan cannot be overstated.”
2023
2023
- Issue
- Issue
1 • 45
1 • 45
T
he shifting geopolitical terrain of Europe In Air Defense Artillery, developing a forward-
underscores the importance for unrivaled air thinking approach is essential to excel and prepare
defense capabilities, and the United States for the next generation of combat. “It’s not just
Army has taken a significant step to address this about providing operational capability within
need by activating the 52nd Air Defense Artillery year; it’s about being the combat multiplier the
(ADA) Brigade. Spearheaded by the leadership of combatant commander will need in five.” To
Colonel Bruce Bredlow, the inaugural commander, begin this transformative journey, leaders must
and Command Sergeant Major Charles Robinson, envision the future with clarity and precision. By
the brigade’s first Command Sergeant Major, this allowing themselves the freedom to dream boldly
momentous activation exemplifies the United and visualize their ideal unit in five years, they can
States’ steadfast dedication to NATO’s defense. lay the foundation for their plans. This exercise
It signifies a crucial advancement in bolstering calls for both ambition and attention to detail,
air defense operations throughout the region. considering potential technological advancements,
adversaries, and defense strategies. For instance,
This article examines the nuances of activating a proactive approach to embracing technology
the 52nd ADA Brigade in Germany, dissecting might require the project manager to upgrade an
the challenges encountered and illuminating the AMDPCS to the latest version and provide new
strategies employed to surmount these hurdles. equipment training, ensuring that the brigade
Presented are five essential lessons gleaned from stays ahead of the curve and is prepared for the
the initial six months of the brigade’s activation, challenges ahead.
offering invaluable perspectives that can inform
and enhance future air defense activations. Once the vision is clear, leaders must identify
Moreover, we will investigate the ramifications the essential resources needed to make this vision
of the 52nd ADA Brigade’s activation for Large- a reality. They can achieve this by surveying each
Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) in Europe and staff section to determine the essentials listed on
its pivotal role in cultivating partnerships at the their MTOE and additional resources that would
tactical echelons. make the section more effective. A thorough
evaluation may reveal the need for conference
Five lessons to empower leaders to navigate room upgrades, establishing an operations center,
the challenges of activating and growing an air and additional automation and communication
defense artillery brigade: requirements in the garrison and the field. By
addressing these needs, the brigade can become
1. Envisioning the Brigade of Tomorrow: a more cohesive and effective force.
Crafting a 5-Year Masterplan
2. Harnessing Cutting-Edge Solutions: Another crucial aspect of this process is
Unleashing the Power of Innovation fostering pride and unity within the brigade. By
3. Unlocking Hidden Budgets: Tapping into implementing elements such as boards, window
the Army’s Financial Reserves decals, rugs, awnings, unit swag, and building
4. Cultivating a Winning Culture: Uniting signs, leaders can create an atmosphere that
the Brigade through Shared Vision and inspires dedication and commitment among their
Values team members. This sense of unity is vital for
5. Powering Up with People: Leveraging maintaining morale and ensuring the brigade’s
Partners to Fuel Growth success. With priorities outlined and the team
engaged, leaders can create a detailed roadmap
“Envisioning the Brigade of Tomorrow: by breaking the 5-year plan into manageable
Crafting a 5-Year Masterplan” milestones. Dividing these milestones into annual,
quarterly, and monthly goals helps maintain
Lesson: Begin by imagining what your ideal Air focus, track progress, and facilitate adjustments
Defense Artillery Brigade will look like five years as needed.
from now, considering advancements in technology,
potential adversaries, and new defense strategies. Finally, leaders need to remain adaptable and
With this vision in mind, prioritize the resources you open to change. The dynamic world of defense
need and set a clear, yet tolerable roadmap for growth. requires agility and responsiveness, as even the

most meticulously crafted plans may require One practical example of innovation in action
adjustments. By being receptive to new ideas and is the adoption of Microsoft 365 to build live
prepared to adapt to changing circumstances, the dashboards for the commander and staff to
brigade can stay ahead of the competition and synchronize in person or across Europe. Building
successfully achieve its long-term objectives. a dashboard that shows live unit data, accessible
Adopting a proactive and forward-thinking to a commander or staff member at any time
approach is key to crafting a successful 5-year or location, enables more effective situational
masterplan for an Air Defense Artillery Brigade. By awareness. This real-time information on the
embracing a clear vision, strategic planning, and unit’s current status, past trip report information,
adaptability, leaders can position their brigade as concerns, and projects enhances decision-making
the combat multiplier the combatant commander and overall operational efficiency.
will need in five years.
Another essential aspect of unleashing the
“Harnessing Cutting-Edge Solutions: power of innovation is the strategic integration
Unleashing the Power of Innovation” of new technologies. This involves not only
identifying and acquiring cutting-edge solutions
Lesson: Embrace emerging technologies and but also ensuring their effective implementation
innovative approaches to transform your brigade’s within the brigade. For instance, instead of
capabilities and maintain a competitive edge. using a centralized task tracker, the brigade can
Constantly evaluate and update your processes, incorporate MS Teams lists, allowing leaders to
ensuring your team remains ahead of the curve in assign tasks and deadlines to individuals or teams,
modern warfare. check on their status, and receive notifications.
Additionally, tasks can be closed out by the user
In Air Defense Artillery, developing a forward-thinking approach is essential to

excel and prepare for the next generation of combat. To begin this transformative
journey, leaders must envision the future with clarity and precision.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern or supervisor. This tool has proven useful for the
warfare, it is essential for leaders to embrace S3 Section to maintain track of subordinate unit
emerging technologies and innovative approaches. or team tasks for all published OPORDs.
“Just because the other divisions, brigades, and
battalions have always done it this way, does not Collaboration is another vital aspect of
mean it is the best or most efficient way to do harnessing the power of innovation. Units
it.” By harnessing the power of innovation, an can gain valuable insights into emerging
Air Defense Artillery Brigade can transform its technologies and best practices by fostering strong
capabilities, maintain a competitive edge, and relationships with industry partners, research
become the combat multiplier that the combatant institutions, and other military branches. These
commander will need in the future. collaborative efforts can lead to the development
of groundbreaking solutions that enhance the
A key component of embracing innovation is brigade’s capabilities and contribute to the
fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous broader defense community. Embracing emerging
learning within the brigade. Encourage team technologies and innovative approaches is crucial
members to stay informed about the latest for transforming an Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s
developments in defense technology and provide capabilities and ensuring its relevance in modern
opportunities for professional development warfare. By fostering a culture of curiosity and
through training, workshops, and conferences. By continuous learning, strategically integrating
nurturing a mindset of growth and adaptability, cutting-edge solutions, and collaborating with
leaders can empower their brigade to stay ahead external partners, leaders can unleash the power
of the curve in modern warfare. of innovation and position their brigade as a
formidable force in the next generation of combat.
2023 - Issue 1 • 47
“Cultivating a Winning Culture: culture development in place, the next line of
Uniting the Brigade through Shared effort is building combat capacity. This involves
Vision and Values” investing in the professional development of the
brigade’s personnel, providing opportunities for
Lesson: Before you can build combat capacity, it’s training, education, and mentorship. By investing
crucial to establish a strong organizational culture that in the growth and development of their team
unites your brigade. Create a sense of purpose and members, leaders can enhance the brigade’s
shared values that foster camaraderie, accountability, capabilities and demonstrate their commitment
and ownership within the ranks. This foundation will to the well-being and success of the individuals
serve as the bedrock for your brigade’s success in the within their ranks. Throughout this process,
years to come. leaders must lead by example, embodying the
brigade’s vision and values in their own actions
Before embarking on the journey to build and decisions. By consistently demonstrating
combat capacity, it is crucial to establish a strong a commitment to excellence, integrity, and
organizational culture that unites your unit. A teamwork, leaders can serve as role models for
winning culture is built on a sense of purpose their team members, inspiring them to adopt and
and shared values that foster camaraderie, uphold the brigade’s cultural values.
accountability, and ownership within the ranks.
This foundation will serve as the bedrock for your Cultivating a winning culture is a vital
brigade’s success in the years to come. prerequisite for building combat capacity within
an Air Defense Artillery Brigade. By prioritizing
The brigade’s vision focuses on protecting sponsorship and RSOI, establishing the brigade’s
lives and promoting security through air and culture based on its vision and shared values, and
missile defense. This purpose inspires the brigade focusing on building combat capacity, leaders can
to provide world-class air and missile defense unite their brigade and lay the foundation for
expertise, educate joint, allied, and partner forces success in the years to come. As the brigade grows
at the tactical level on air defense employment and evolves, this strong cultural foundation will
and weapon systems, and cultivate a culture of serve as the bedrock for its continued success and
continuous learning, all with the ultimate goal its role as a combat multiplier for the combatant
of providing air and missile defense protection commander.
wherever needed.
“Unlocking Hidden Budgets:
In line with the commander’s priorities, Tapping into the Army’s Financial Reserves”
the first step is focusing on sponsorship and
Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Lesson: Don’t be limited by current budget
Integration (RSOI). Ensuring a smooth and constraints. Learn the art of networking and
efficient integration process for incoming strategically position your brigade to benefit from
personnel is essential for setting the stage for the Army’s thrice-yearly budget adjustments. By
a strong organizational culture. The brigade communicating your needs effectively and showcasing
developed a YouTube page to assist with the value of your brigade, secure the necessary funding
sponsorship, creating “sponsorship videos” that for growth and development.
answer common questions for soldiers and their
families moving to the brigade and Germany. A critical aspect for growing an Air Defense
Next, leaders must establish core values that align Artillery Brigade is effectively managing financial
with the brigade’s vision and American values. resources. However, leaders should not be limited
In the 52nd ADA Brigade, these values include by current budget constraints. One rule of thumb
Education, Innovation, Adaptability, Trust, and we have become accustomed to is, “it is far better
Empathy. These values guide the brigade’s actions to justify why you need 15% more added to your
as they fulfill their purpose of protecting lives budget than to justify why you underspent by
and promoting global security through air and 15%.” The “so what” here is twofold. On one hand,
missile defense. by demonstrating a clear need for additional funds
and effectively utilizing resources, leaders can
With the foundation of sponsorship, RSOI, and make a compelling case for budget increases that

will enable brigade growth and modernization. A powerful example of strategically position
This can lead to better-equipped and more capable your brigade to benefit from the Army’s thrice-
forces that are ready to face evolving threats. On yearly budget adjustments is when the brigade
the other hand, underspending by a significant was established in the POM cycle with $2.4 million
margin like 15% could raise questions about the designated for its activation. Due to continual
brigade’s efficiency and ability to manage its delays, there was actually $0 designated for FY23
financial resources. This might lead to reduced after activation since the unit was slated to be
funding in future budgets, as decision-makers activated 2 years earlier. This led to Unfunded
may assume that the brigade can fulfill its mission Requests (UFRs) being submitted for all the
with less financial support. By mastering the art activation and renovation projects within the
of networking and strategically positioning the five-year plan, as discussed in the first lesson.
brigade, one can tap into the Army’s financial After evaluating the brigade’s current capabilities
reserves and secure the necessary funding for and aligning them with the vision for its future,
growth and development. This involves striking a leaders can create a strategic financial plan that
balance between justifying additional funds when focuses on the brigade’s most pressing needs by
necessary and ensuring that current resources identifying the most critical resources required
are used effectively to maintain credibility with for growth and development. Initially, the S4
decision-makers and stakeholders. section and AAMDC G8 were met with resistance.
Before embarking on the journey to build combat capacity, it is crucial

to establish a strong organizational culture that unites your unit.
Networking plays a crucial role in unlocking However, the brigade persisted, leading to an
hidden funds. Developing strong relationships analysis of the risk involved in not funding the
with key decision-makers within the military and requests and writing out the proper justifications.
other branches can provide valuable insights into
funding opportunities and help build support for Another significant example was when funding
the brigade’s financial needs. One of the most was granted by precisely articulating the risk to
pivotal moments in securing funding for the the DCG of the combatant commander’s risk if
brigade’s major projects and requests was when the unit did not receive the proper equipment
the commander met with the USAEUR-AF G8 and funding needed to upgrade the components.
at the Winter Commander’s Conference. There, By effectively conveying the brigade’s needs and
he learned and shared with the team that the values, leaders can build support for their financial
Army will correct its budget three times a year. If requests and secure the necessary resources.
requests are submitted correctly and prioritized,
funding is more likely to be secured. “Luck is the In essence, unlocking hidden budgets is
crossroads between opportunity and preparation.” essential for the growth and development of an
Air Defense Artillery Brigade. By understanding
Therefore, the first step in unlocking hidden the Army’s budgeting process, prioritizing
budgets is understanding the Army’s budgeting the brigade’s financial needs, communicating
process. The Army specifically allocates funding effectively, and building a strong network of
through a system that critically adjusts its budgets allies, leaders can strategically position their
thrice-yearly to meet its ever-changing needs. By brigade to benefit from the Army’s thrice-yearly
becoming familiar with this process, leaders can budget adjustments. With the necessary funding
identify special opportunities to request additional secured, the brigade can continue to grow and
resources for their units and capitalize on these develop, becoming the combat multiplier the
financial adjustments. Typically they fall in the combatant commander will need in the future.
months of March, August, and September which
correspond with milestones in which 50%, 80%,
and 100% of the budget must be attained.
2023 - Issue 1 • 49
“Powering Up with People: UK Group, which provides Sky Sabre, Rapier, and
Leveraging Partners to Fuel Growth” Starstreak capabilities, and engagements with
Sweden during Aurora 23. By forming immediate
Lesson: Recognize that participation in next- ties with these allies, you can significantly
generation combat may come at a cost. Forge strategic enhance your brigade’s capabilities and position
partnerships and secure sponsorships to provide the it as a leader in air and missile defense.
financial backing necessary for your brigade’s growth.
By aligning with the right partners, you’ll ensure your Finally, collaborations with NGOs and private
team is equipped and prepared to face the challenges industry partners can offer valuable resources,
of modern warfare. expertise, and cutting-edge technologies that
can further empower your brigade. For instance,
Recognizing that participation in next- a few NGOs have visited the headquarters to
generation combat may come at a cost, it’s demonstrate their capabilities or seek expertise to
essential for Air Defense Artillery Brigades to forge further develop their services. In May, the brigade
strategic partnerships and secure sponsorships to is facilitating a Northrop Grumman demonstration
fuel growth. These partnerships can be broadly of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle
categorized into three main areas: inter-service Command System (IBCS) capability, inviting NATO
collaborations, allied partners, and collaborations allies to participate. Such demonstrations not only
with NGOs and private industry partners. By showcase advanced technologies but also foster
aligning with the right partners, you can ensure relationships with industry partners, leading to
that your team is equipped and prepared to face long-term collaboration and mutual benefits.
the challenges of modern warfare. In this section,
we’ll explore how to leverage sponsorship and Subsequently, leveraging sponsorship and
partnerships to empower your brigade’s growth forging strategic partnerships is an essential
and development, with a particular focus on strategy for Air Defense Artillery Brigades
This extraordinary journey has been enriched by five critical lessons

learned, which now serve as the guiding light for the brigade’s continued
growth and success.
inter-service partnerships, allied partners, and preparing for next-generation combat. By

NGOs, in that order. prioritizing inter-service collaborations, building
relationships with allied partners, and engaging
First, inter-service collaborations are a vital with NGOs and private industry partners, you can
aspect of your brigade’s growth. Organizations secure the necessary support for your brigade’s
such as V-Corps and Armored Brigade Combat growth and development. These partnerships will
Teams (ABCTs) that are rotating on the eastern play a crucial role in your brigade’s continued
flank or conducting various missions and exercises success and its position as a combat multiplier
can provide valuable resources and expertise. By for the combatant commander.
collaborating with these organizations, you can
strengthen your brigade’s capabilities and ensure While the curtain falls on the first six months
it remains at the forefront of modern warfare. of the 52nd ADA Brigade’s activation in Germany,
Prioritize visiting maneuver commanders slated the organization stands tall, poised to shape the
to deploy to Europe this year, and work closely future of large-scale combat operations (LSCO)
with their staff to inform and educate them about in Europe. This extraordinary journey has been
air defense assets and capabilities. enriched by five critical lessons learned, which
now serve as the guiding light for the brigade’s
Second, fostering relationships with allied continued growth and success. As we reflect
partners is crucial for bolstering your brigade’s upon the incredible journey of the 52nd ADA
capacity and expertise. Examples of such Brigade’s activation, it becomes clear that the
partnerships include collaborations with the 7th lessons learned from this experience hold the

key to unlocking the full potential of air defense air defense forces worldwide, drive change and
in Europe. These five transformative lessons unlock the full potential of air defense capabilities.
provide a roadmap for the brigade to shape the It’s time to seize the moment, turning these
future of LSCO and become a formidable force lessons into a force for change that will redefine
in the region. the landscape of air defense and ensure the safety
and security of generations to come.
First, the importance of a comprehensive
strategic plan cannot be overstated. By developing MAJ Thomas Justin Webb currently serves as the G35/7 OIC
for 10th AAMDC. He has previously served as the S3 for the 52d
a clear vision and charting a course for the
ADA BDE in Sembach, German, Executive Officer for the 5-7 ADA
brigade’s growth, the 52nd ADA Brigade sets the Battalion, playing a crucial role during the rapid deployment
stage for success in an ever-evolving geopolitical in support of the European Assure, Deter and Reinforce (EADR)
landscape. With this plan in place, the brigade operation. MAJ Webb holds a Masters of Operational Studies from
is prepared to adapt and thrive in the face of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a Master
of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El
emerging challenges and harness the power of Paso. He was commissioned through OCS in 2009.
cutting-edge technologies.
Photo Credits
Second, innovation lies at the heart of the
Pages 44-45: U.S. Army COL Bruce Bredlow, 52d ADA Brigade
brigade’s ability to support maneuver forces
Commander, passes the unit’s colors to Command SGM Charles
and adapt to the rapidly changing battlefield. By L. Robinson III, 52d ADA Brigade senior enlisted advisor, at 52d’s
fostering a culture of creativity and continuous first assumption of responsibility ceremony in Sembach, Germany,
learning, the 52nd ADA Brigade is poised to April 12, 2023. This ceremony also marked the first time that the
develop groundbreaking tactics and solutions brigade’s new colors were uncased publicly.
(U.S. Army Photo by SSG Robert P. Wormley III)
that will redefine the future of air defense in
Europe. Third, by skillfully understanding budget Background photo, pages 46-47:
processes and building strategic relationships, Patriot Missiles in front of McNair Hall set the scene and mark the
leaders can unlock hidden resources essential start of the Remembrance Run on 9-11-23.
(Photo by Angela Turner, Fort Sill Public Affairs Office)
for their unit’s growth and modernization.
Embracing this approach ensures that the
Background photo, pages 48-49:
brigade remains prepared and adaptable, fully Soldiers and civilians pause for a moment of reflection as BG Shane
equipped to face emerging threats and challenges. Morgan speaks of his experience on 9-11.
Fourth, a winning culture unites the brigade and (Photo by Monica Wood, Fort Sill Public Affairs Office)
empowers its members to overcome obstacles
Background photo, pages 50-51:
with unwavering determination. By establishing The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery Salute Battery fire ceremonial
shared values and fostering open dialogue among cannons in front of McNair Hall during the 9-11 Remembrance
experienced professionals, the 52nd ADA Brigade Ceremony at Fort Sill.
creates an environment in which innovative (Photo by Monica Wood, Fort Sill Public Affairs Office)
solutions can flourish. This cohesive culture
fuels the brigade’s resilience, enabling it to face
the challenges of LSCO with confidence and
grit. Lastly, strategic partnerships are essential
for the brigade’s growth and development. By
leveraging sponsorship opportunities and forging
alliances with inter-service partners, allied forces,
and NGOs, the 52nd ADA Brigade can unlock
vital resources and build a powerful network of
support. These collaborations will be instrumental
in equipping the brigade with the tools and
knowledge necessary to confront the challenges
of modern warfare.
As we look to the future, we can embrace

the invaluable lessons learned. Armed with this
knowledge, we can energize and inspire activating
2023 - Issue 1 • 51
An Avenger air defense system from 5-4 Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command,
scans the skies from a hidden position on Sept. 21, 2021 during exercise Saber Junction 21 at Hohenfels Training Area. (U.S. Army
photo by MAJ Robert Fellingham)
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Send your articles with supporting graphics and photographs to:

[email protected]
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See submission guidelines at
https://sill-www.army.mil/ada-journal/
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The official publication for U.S. Army Air Defense Professionals

Staff can be reached by email at usarmy.sill.fcoe.mbx.bulletins@

30 Engagement Operations Center

44 Growing a Brigade: five lessons learned from

2 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

“We are getting it done. In the future, we are not going to be

GEN James C. McConville

This is the greatest and most complex modernization of our

Designing the Army of 2040

The Air & Missile Defense Cross Functional Team focuses on

4 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

6 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

1 James Crabtree. On Air Defense. 13.

8 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

10 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

12 James Gardner. A British Anti-aircraft Battery in Action.

The RAF narrative on the

12 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

21 Rosemary Sylvia Shea. Interview by Conrad Wood. 2002.

14 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

27 Grove. Interview by Conrad Wood. 1992

16 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

By COL (R) Dave Shank

The IBCS provides a common mission command and sensor/weapon

18 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

Change is determining ways to leverage these legacy

20 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

In conclusion, it is time to begin testing

Tactical Data Link University

W hen Russian forces invaded Ukraine

Team 10 envisioned three key

24 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

A secure and reliable data link and Logistics and Sustainment

26 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

The last year has proven to be both historic and

COL Rosanna M. Clemente is a first generation Filipino-American

28 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

By LTC Trey Guy and 1LT Ian R. Stanford

30 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

1LT Ian R. Stanford received his commission through the

32 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

M1078 Expandable Van Shelters Army Hardside Expandable Light Air

As LTG James Rainey said on Day Two of the 2021

34 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

So, what was ADA doing in Vietnam? Officially, to

High Velocity: Engaging airborne threats, it is

High Rates of Fire: As any novice shooter knows,

36 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

In Iraq, however, the single .50 caliber machine Flexibility

38 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

40 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

42 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

46 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

In Air Defense Artillery, developing a forward-thinking approach is essential to

48 • Air Defense Artillery Journal

Before embarking on the journey to build combat capacity, it is crucial

This extraordinary journey has been enriched by five critical lessons

inter-service partnerships, allied partners, and preparing for next-generation combat. By

50 • Air Defense Artillery Journal