Joint enablers: Airmen, Soldiers prep for Patriot's debut at Southwest Asia base

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Airmen and Soldiers gather at the Patriot Battery motor pool to go over ground plans Jan. 3 in preparation for the arrival of about 200 Soldiers in the coming weeks. (Left to right) The 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander, Lt. Col. Fred Thaden; Army 1st Lt. Erik Mason, 5-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion Signal Officer; 1st Lt. Shawn McDanal and Capt. Raymond Orr, both project officers with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, discuss site layout plans over the hood of an Army Patriot Battery communications vehicle. The advance team of Soldiers, in addition to the arrival of the main body, will comprise the first Patriot Battery at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The Soldiers will be incorporated into the 380th AEW's mission in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Colonel Thaden hails from Colorado Springs, Colo. He is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where his wife and children reside. Lieutenant Mason is deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas; he calls Olean, N.Y., home. Lieutenant McDanal, deployed from Andrews AFB, Md., hails from Conifer, Colo. Captain Orr, a Downingtown, Pa., native, recently returned to his home station of Moron Air Base, Spain. Captain Orr was the lead engineer for the Army bed-down prior to handing the reins over to new arrival, Lieutenant McDanal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson) (released)