Bravo Bulldogs, 1-1 ADA Take a Bite out of the 18th Wing MRE

By 2nd Lt. Joseph Brown, fire control platoon leader, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense CommandApril 13, 2016

Bravo Bulldogs, 1-1 ADA Take a Bite out of the 18th Wing MRE
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command emplaces a Patriot launcher in front of the 18th Combat Wing headquarters on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, during a mission readiness exerc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bravo Bulldogs, 1-1 ADA Take a Bite out of the 18th Wing MRE
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command emplace stakes to support the communications antenna for the Patriot launcher site in front of the 18th Combat Wing headquarters... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa, Japan -- Known as the "Hub of Pacific Air Power", the 18th Wing stationed on Okinawa's Kadena Air Base is the Air Force's largest combat wing. The 18,000 military and civilians on Kadena make up a world-class combat ready team with numerous missions and functions, which all rely on each other to fulfill a complex and vital role in the region.

On the morning of Tuesday, April 5, 2015, sirens across base alerted all members of "Team Kadena" that an exercise had begun. The mission readiness exercise focused on stressing base processes, command and control, logistics, and communications. Simulated strikes across the base occurred throughout the day, forcing military leaders to adapt, in an effort to validate Team Kadena's capability to maintain operations under stressful combat conditions.

As the only Army ground-based air defense (Patriot) assigned to the airbase, the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment was called upon during the exercise to provide air and missile defense. Bravo Battery, 1-1 ADA prepared a site near the 18th Wing Headquarters.

The missile defense battery deployed a small reconnaissance, selection, and occupation of position (RSOP) team to the site; the team was responsible for the layout and preparation for all follow-on equipment. The Patriot equipment includes launchers, a radar, power generators, communications, and command and control elements.

As the RSOP team finalized their preparations, the main body of the fire unit staged and executed movement across Kadena Air Base. Within the hour, the systems were emplaced, powered, initialized, and ready to provide air and missile defense.

"Every opportunity to demonstrate and train interoperability is so important," remarked Capt. Thaddeus Morris of Fayetteville Arkansas, commander, Bravo Battery, 1-1 ADA, 94th AAMDC. "As Air Defenders, that understanding should be at the heart of how we view our mission."

Throughout the day and late into the evening, the battery simulated engagements of ballistic and cruise missile threats. At the same time, the battalion's liaison officer, Capt. Blake Sandstrom, operated from the 18th Wing command post, integrating and reporting information and concerns up and down the joint chain.

The soldiers and leaders of Bravo Battery saw the exercise as a unique opportunity to train and execute their drills in an operational context. The battery's participation built confidence in crewmembers' abilities to conduct mobility and emplacement drills, establish communications, and maintain operations in a no-notice and variable environment.

"I hope that the battery Soldiers gained a better context for our mission from this exercise and the Wing gained trust and confidence in our weapon system," said Morris.