FORT SILL, Okla. -- Conducting a Patriot missile live-fire is an opportunity that few Patriot crews get to conduct. Most Patriot exercises are simulated utilizing state-of-the-art digital technology that allows crews to train as they fight without actually firing a live missile.
On December 8th, Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducted a Deployment Readiness Exercise or DRE. This DRE validated the ability of A Battery, 4-3 ADA to rapidly respond and deploy on a moment's notice and ultimately conduct a Patriot missile live-fire.
The DRE took the battery from Fort Sill all the way to McGregor Range in New Mexico to conduct the live-fire in 96 hours. Once at McGregor Range the crew had to establish their Patriot Missile Site, conduct a series of system "check outs" and tests to ensure equipment readiness, and fire the missiles.
Capt. Jessica Perales, commander Alpha Battery, 4-3 ADA said, "Validating that my battery is ready to deploy within 96 hrs, and to ensure that my equipment and my Soldiers are able to perform their job is my number one goal for this exercise."
"I have a lot of new Soldiers, so for them to see their equipment that they maintain and train on actually fire a missile will give them the confidence they need to accomplish their mission."
Conducting this DRE and the tasks associated with it was the main concern of the noncommissioned officers of the battery as well.
"This training is going great, the Soldiers are doing outstanding and they have learned a lot from this experience. We don't get to shoot a lot of live missiles so this is a fantastic training opportunity," said Sgt. Edward Han, A Battery, 4-3 ADA.
A Battery, 4-3 ADA proved once again that units within 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade stand ready to deploy and engage the enemy if called on to deploy.
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