ADA battery competes in overseas reload competition

By B Battery, 1st Battalion, 62nd ADANovember 21, 2013

Reload competition
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SOUTHWEST ASIA - The best of the best from B Battery, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery, known as the "Bonecrushers," were invited out for a reload competition with their host nation counterparts recently.

"Working alongside the host-nation military was a great experience, we had a blast watching our everyday operations being put to use by foreign country soldiers," said Spc. Dustin Woods.

The host nation soldiers welcomed the American Soldiers with a tour around their Patriot site and explained some of the small differences in their equipment.

"The host-nation soldiers used our training techniques but with their own slight twist on their slightly different equipment," said Woods.

During the preparation for the competition 1-62nd ADA Soldiers trained with the host-nation soldiers prior to the missile reload competition.

Even though this was a competition, both crews had fun completing the evaluated drills as quick as possible while remaining safe and learning from one another.

"We learn that there are various strategic ways to complete the drill and different steps that can be taken to complete a reload in a hurry while staying safe," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Hillsman.

Overall the reload competition was a good learning experience and the Soldiers of 1-62nd ADA had the privilege to both teach and learn from their host-nation counterparts.

"1-62nd ADA Battalion looks forward to future events with our host-nation counterparts," said Capt. Roderick Cooper, B/1-62nd ADA executive officer. " offer opportunities where we can work and compete together, and they can see how we operate our Patriot site."