FayObserver:
Air Defense Artillery soldiers kept vigilant eyes as they scanned the darkening sky over Fort Bragg in search of ballistic missiles or enemy aircraft.
It’s all part of training for soldiers of 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, who are practicing identifying and intercepting and simulating the destruction of missiles in their annual mission readiness exercise at Fort Bragg. The brigade’s 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment will deploy to southwest Asia this winter.
Capt. Michael Schoenbeck, the battalion’s C Battery commander, observed his soldiers as they used computer software to simulate air battles to identify ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft in their airspace.
“I feel very confident with their level of knowledge and expertise,” he said.
Fort Bragg’s 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is one of four brigades under the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command based at Fort Bliss, Texas. These brigades deploy to provide air missile defense to protect assets in support of the Joint Force Commander’s priorities.
It’s one of Fort Bragg’s lesser-known tenant units, sometimes overshadowed by the 82nd Airborne Division and special operations forces, but its capabilities make it a desirable preference for combatant commanders across the globe.
The brigades use Patriot missile systems – Phased Array Tracking Radar Intercept on Target – which can counter threats from ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
The system’s radar scans the sky looking for threats and, if any are present, is able to distinguish the type of threat. Operators in a control station monitor the radar system.
Once the Patriot launcher is set up, it takes just seconds to fire a missile that is guided to the target by the control station.
Those training for the deployment include technicians, support crews and security forces.
“For the combatant commander overseas, we give him options so he’s not pinned into a box,” Schoenbeck said.
