FORT SILL, Okla. -- In December of 2012 the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade was given a seven-day no-notice deployment to support Operation Active Fence in Turkey. The mission was requested through NATO and requested Patriot Missile support to be placed on its southern border with Syria.
On March 13th 2015 Brig. Gen. Donald Fryc, commander 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas presented the battalion with the United States Army Superior Unit Award for their actions in support of Operation Active Fence.
"This is the highest peacetime award you can get, this unit lived up to its legacy and performed as expected. This is our time as air defenders, the 21st Century is all about us, it's all about air defenders. No one is in higher demand around the globe right now no branch is more deployed in our Army than the air defense branch, air and missile defense forces are the first instinct call by combatant commanders around the globe," said Fryc.
In all six batteries were sent to Turkey to support this mission, two from 3-2 ADA, two from Germany and two from the Netherlands. The support was requested to help monitor and deter any missile threats to Turkey from neighboring Syria during the height of the Syrian Civil War.
The Battalion Commander, Lt. Col John Dawber said, "In December 2012, 284 warriors and over 2,000 tons of cargo deployed from Fort Sill, Okla., to the country of Turkey. Undaunted, we ensured the defense of over 1.5 million people who reside in the city of Gaziantep Turkey."
This award was created in 1985 and is awarded in peacetime to any unit of the Army which "displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances."
"This is a huge day, I want to let you know how proud we are of you and what a big deal receiving this award is. This mission was about living what we talk and proclaim all the time, which is 'we are all Soldiers 24 and 7' that is our legacy in this brigade and in your battalion, we are ready and vigilant 24 and 7," said Col. Kevin F. Ciocca, commander, 31st ADA Brigade.
Many of the Soldiers in the unit didn't deploy to Turkey, but for the ones that did deploy this was a very proud day for them.
"I am both very humbled and proud to have been in this unit, I am glad we are finally getting recognized for this unconventional deployment we conducted. It was great that our commanding general was able to present the award to us and also offer his gratitude to the unit on this mission," said 1st Lt. Erin McTarnaghan, former executive officer, Charlie Battery, 3-2 ADA.
This mission proved once more that Air Defense Soldiers are the most adaptable and lethal Soldiers in the U.S. Army and stand ready to defend our nation and our allies.
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