The Air Defense Artillery School is the professional school of the Air Defense Artillery Branch of the US Army. It is at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The school was organized as the 6th ADA Brigade until 18 May 2012, when it was redesignated as the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The decision to redesignate the 6th ADA to 30th ADA was made after Col. Bill Stacey, the then-6th ADA commander, discovered that the 6th ADA had no official ADA colors.[1]
| United States Army Air Defense Artillery School | |
|---|---|
 Shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 1942–present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | Air Defense Artillery |
| Role | Training |
| Size | Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Sill |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | COL John W. Brock II |
Current status
editIn June 2009, the Army Air Defense Artillery School and the 6th ADA Brigade relocated from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill. This move was a result of the 2005 BRAC moves. The motor transport operator (88M) course has moved to Fort Leonard Wood.[2] There is a new Army policy replacing drill sergeants at AIT with regular noncommissioned officers from front line units. This is to free up drill sergeants for basic training.[3] However, starting in 2018 Drill Sergeants made a comeback, somewhat due to 'disciplinary' issues amongst trainees.
- 1st Battalion, 56th ADA Regiment is part of the 6th ADA Brigade.[4] After 2005, 1–56 ADA was broken up and the soldiers were assigned to different battalions based on their military occupational specialty and systems they train on. Officer training is the only function of 1–56 ADA today.[citation needed]
- 2nd Battalion, 6th ADA Regiment, with C-RAM, Sentinel, Stinger/Avenger
- 3rd Battalion, 6th ADA Regiment, with MIM-104 Patriot, THAAD
Former Brigade Commanders
edit- COL Donald G. Fryc
- COL William M. Stacey
- COL James P. Payne
- COL David R. Baxter
- COL Maurice O. Barnett
- COL William M. Parker
- COL Tony L Dedmond Jr.
Former Command Sergeant Major
edit- CSM Bryan A. Pinkney
- CSM David C. Cowan
- CSM Timothy D. Hockenberry
- CSM Thomas L. Egan
- CSM John L. Young
- CSM Randy B. Gray
- CSM Melissa A. Calvo
See also
editReferences
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from Air Defense Artillery school. United States Army Institute of Heraldry.
- ^ "Local – Lawton Constitution – Lawton, OK". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Bliss' Transportation School graduates last 28 Soldiers" Fort Bliss Monitor, 11 June 2009
- ^ ADA school website
- ^ ADA School website
External links
edit- https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194507/http://www.airdefenseartillery.com/online/2010/CoastArtilleryHome.htm
- http://www.skylighters.org/places/intro.html
- The short film Big Picture: Missile Man is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.