The Army Times

The Army is trying to ease the burden on its frequently deployed air and missile defense soldiers, as well as address what some lawmakers call a “modern-day missile gap” facing troops.

Even as the Army invests in new Patriot radars and other modernization initiatives, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot batteries remain among the most frequently deployed units in the military.

Patriot missile troops had a 1:1.8 dwell ratio, according to Army data provided in August, meaning for whatever amount of time they’re deployed, the soldiers spend just shy of double that at home station. That doesn’t count forward-based assets at places like South Korea, and it’s a slightly tighter gap than even Army Special Forces, which had a 1:1.9 ratio in August.

But things got more hectic in the months that followed, as more Patriot battery soldiers were sent to the Middle East after attacks on Saudi oil facilities by Yemen-based militants on Sept. 14. Unfortunately, those batteries weren’t close enough to defend against a Jan. 8 ballistic missile attack by Iran that struck two Iraqi bases housing coalition troops.

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