"Strike First" Battalion Conducts Mobility Exercise in Southwest Asia

Published Feb. 28, 2014
1-44 ADA Bn. Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Soldiers from Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, conducted a mobility exercise from Jan. 19 - 21, 2014. The intent was to validate their ability to tactically transport and move the Patriot Air Defense System from one area of operation to another.

The Fort Hood based unit from the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade currently falls under the tactical command of 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade based out of Fort Sill, Okla. The battalion is currently deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the three-day exercise, B Battery tested many troop leading procedures or TLP's in a real-time environment. The unit tested different tasks such as march-order and emplacing the critical equipment needed to be able to engage the enemy. This task is one of most important when establishing a new Patriot site, as this is the foundation on which the rest of the mission and ability to fight is built upon. The unit was able to execute flawlessly with high praise regarding the attention to safety in the execution of the mission.

Pvt. David Roble, a tactical control assistant viewed the exercise as "an invaluable teaching point for younger Soldiers who arrived to the unit before deployment."
"I can really appreciate how veteran peers explained in detail how equipment is properly emplaced in a deployed environment," said Roble.

"It was great seeing the plan come to fruition, the Soldiers were able to learn so much and were motivated to conduct the exercise," said 1st Lt. Dustin Newman, a tactical control officer, for B Battery, 1-44 ADA.

After they set up the site, they moved to the next stage in the training exercise, which were simulated air battles. The air battle management crews, led by the Engagement Control Station or ECS, and supported by the Battery Command Post or BCP, conducted vigorous air battle training in order to accurately mirror their air defense mission during wartime operations.

Spc. Sarah Burns, a BCP operator, in B Battery, said "The air battle management training was an excellent training experience; the Battery Command Post was able to still conduct air battle management at a new location without decreasing the productivity or proficiency of the Battery's crews."

With the success of this initial exercise, B Battery looks forward to continue conducting future mobility training in order to maintain its operational readiness. They will continue to provide top-notch combat capability to the "Strike First" Battalion.