Fourth Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery recently completed its Table VIII Certification continuing training in preparation to assume a contingency expeditionary force (CEF) mission later this year.
Table VIII Certification consists of site reconnaissance, tactically and safely emplacing the Patriot Missile System, establishing communications, engagement and force operations, maintenance and air battle management.
Air defense units typically do Table VIII certifications semi-annually, but this particular training exercise was vital for this unit and it assumption of CEF duties later this year.
"It ensures that we can maintain our equipment; we can safely emplace our equipment without damaging it or commit any safety violations while emplacing the equipment," said Capt Jessica Perales, A Battery, 4-3rd ADA commander. "If we deploy, we will be expected to move our equipment from point A to point B safely; and we will be expected to work once we get there. So ensuring our operators know how to correctly emplace their equipment without damaging it or injuring themselves is extremely important."
With any mission or training that air defense unit's conduct, teamwork factors into mission success.
"Teamwork is essential in a Table VIII you have to be synchronized from operators to maintainers, and you have to know what's going on with all pieces of equipment," said Perales.
There were also other obstacle Soldiers overcame.
"The severe lack of personnel for this Table VIII has been one of our greatest obstacles. We have made do with what we have, putting key leaders and Soldiers in places they wouldn't normally be. Our ability to adjust fire and drive on has been the key to making the mission happen," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Stith, an A Battery, 4-3rd ADA launcher platoon sergeant.
This shortage has led to Soldiers being cross-trained in all aspects of Patriot operations, resulting in a better-rounded air defense Soldier.
"This training is putting me in different positions that I haven't worked before, training me in different areas has taught me a lot. I have learned the signal piece which I have never been before, and also I have been a lot deeper in the maintenance aspect," said Spc. Dominique Johnson, A Battery, 4-3rd ADA assistant squad leader.
For new Soldiers like Pvt. Shane Singletary the training was an opportunity for him to learn from senior leaders who have done this for years.
"The training is great here, we are going to certify and this will definitely help me if we get deployed downrange. We have great leaders out here, they teach us a lot, they don't only teach us how it works but also how to maintain it and how everything works together. This training is helping me get a layout of what to expect if we do go downrange and what to expect once we are there," said Singletary.
Evaluation of crews required an external inspection team from outisde the 31st ADA Brigade to be onsite and evaluate Soldiers step-by-step to ensure they are proficient and ready to assume their mission.
"We checked everything from establishing communications, emplacing equipment, maintenance and all paperwork associated with these tasks," said Staff Sgt Travis Anderson, an engagement operations sergeant in Higher Headquarters Battery, 31st ADA Brigade. "This training is a big part of what they do and will enable them to deploy, if called upon."
The battalion will continue to train-up in preparation of assuming the CEF mission later this year.
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