OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Air Defense Artillery Fire Coordination officers from the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade held a tactical seminar Sept. 23-24 at Camp Carroll and Suwon Air Base to brief Information and Coordination Central/Engagement Control Station/Battery Command Post crews on theater-specific tactics and to generate discussion on Patriot system performance.
Topics of discussion included North Korean threat assessments and current capabilities, reporting and troubleshooting procedures, simulated engagement training.
“Both of our battalions had a great turn out of Patriot operators from many Military Occupation Specialties and roles,” said Sgt. Lucas Hampton, 35th ADA Brigade air defense artillery fire coordination assistant. “It was great to witness the enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge from these young air defenders.”
All the feedback received will build into the brigade’s tactical review board slated for October where tacticians within the ADA field will be updating and publishing all of the refined tactical documents.
“The seminar wasn’t just for our senior leaders,” said Spc. William Smith, a Patriot fire control enhanced operator/maintainer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment. “A lot of Soldiers arrive to the brigade fresh out of Advanced Individual Training so this forum provided leaders with an opportunity to throw a little knowledge their way.”
“The topics were well chosen,” he said. “The information ties directly into our requirement to qualify as a crew on the Patriot missile system and, eventually, qualify as a crew in the advanced adverse conditions certification.”
ADA Soldiers are required to certify as part of a Patriot missile system crew on a semi-annual basis with advanced certifications authorized at the command level.