FORT SILL, Okla. -- The 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery "Bruiser Nation" hosted the Combined Patriot Staff Planners Orientation Course (SPOC) Nov. 18-22.
The course marked the first time the training was held at Fort Sill.
The course has been sponsored annually by Army Aviation and Missile Command's New Equipment Training Office with the Lower Tier Project Office.
It was designed to provide a general overview of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense Weapon System and is offered to all major commands, Department of the Army civilians, military contractors and select partner nations.
The SPOC taught the most updated unclassified information on fielded Patriot hardware and software configurations to include discussions on Patriot operations, maintenance and logistics.
Raytheon Company provided the course program of instruction and instructors most of whom are retired Patriot Soldiers with more than 20 years experience with the Patriot Missile System.
3-6th ADA personnel assisted Raytheon by providing Patriot tactical equipment and the system's primary training device the Reconfigurable Table Top Trainer (RT3).
Previously, SPOC was held at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Huntsville, Ala.
The RT3 is a modern training device and the primary one used by the Patriot force.
The RT3 system is a computer-based trainer used by both the Patriot Training Battalion and Forces Command units to simulate the Patriot Air and Missile Defense Weapon System.
It provides realistic, real-time training similar to the tactical system in a controlled school environment.
More than 140 RT3 systems are used for all Patriot training both for U.S. and select partner nations.
The Patriot Weapon System is the Army's primary air and missile defense weapon system with proven combat capability during operations Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Army's Patriot force is nearly 60 percent forward stationed or deployed worldwide as a strategic deterrent designed to counter and defeat 21st century air threats, such as aircraft, helicopters, and tactical ballistic, cruise and anti-radiation missiles.
Other U.S. partners have fielded Patriot systems through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
"It was a great opportunity for our air defense partners to receive the latest Patriot system updates and even better to have the SPOC take place here in 'Bruiser Nation' where we produce the most critical component to the Patriot weapons system the Soldier," said Lt. Col. Shaun Lott, 3-6th ADA commander.
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