Posted on Mar 6, 2017
SGT Quality Control Technical Inspector
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Comments or messages would be great, as too I'm looking ahead for future branches.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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Air Defense Artillery: having no job since 1991...
With the exception of the ABM batteries.
Ain't nobody going to try to pick an air superiority fight with Uncle Sam.
I'd be curious when the last time an American ADA battery destroyed an enemy plane was.

No offense to my ADA brothers, but if you ever do get to shoot at the enemy, we are in deep trouble.
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LTC Amd Chief
LTC (Join to see)
>1 y
Well there is North Korea who USAF concede can gain local air superiority. Then there are these things called ballistic missiles which has this ability to be shot from one continent goes into space cross an ocean or two then can hit a spot on another continent. Also there are these things called Unmanned Ariel Vehicles that can either be used for observation or attack a target. All of countries have them and terrorist organizations can easily get them too.
You know who's responsible for ensuring people on the ground don't get whacked by ballistic missiles and Unmanned Ariel Vehicles? It's you ADA pals. We don't just shoot down planes. We make sure the skies are safe and friendly while you hand out soccer balls. It's the ONLY combat arms branch that has a 24/7/365 mission.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
1SG (Join to see)
>1 y
LTC (Join to see) - The only way the DPRK gains local air superiority is if they catch us napping or the USAF and Navy have to RTB in order to get more missiles. Their Air Force is a joke. MiG 21s, -23s, and -29s? Target practice. Yokohama Air base will have more aces than a Las Vegas Casino. One carrier battle group would make short work of it, and it would take around a week to do so.
Their ballistic missiles are not a joke. Defeating the threats posed by them, Iran, and others is an emerging mission that still requires a lot of work. Any deployment of ABM batteries risks violating the ABM treaty and spurring negative relations with Russia and China, who view such deployments as aimed at them. This is unfolding as I type in the ROK.

I'll just ignore the soccer ball crack, as I know you know better.
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SPC John Decker
SPC John Decker
4 y
I agree with your assessment. When I was in West Germany ('83-'84), I was assigned to 3/67 ADA. I was a medic assigned to Delta Battery (Vulcan Air Defense Weapons System). We were the first line of defense, if the Soviets decided to jump. To my way of thinking, that's the only reason any ADA unit should even exist.
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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ADA officer is a job that is looking up.
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MSgt Registered Nurse (Rn)
MSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
I see what you did there...
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LTC Jason Strickland
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SGT (Join to see), I spent my first four years as an ADA officer, then the Army detailed me to Military Intelligence.
I enjoyed the combat arms experience, working as a "slice" element supporting maneuver units, and gaining valuable training opportunities to be on the front lines. However, I also enjoyed the transition to MI once my detail ended. Back in the day, ADA officers worked in either SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense) [Stingers, Avengers, etc.] or HIMAD (High to Medium Air Defense) [Patriots], and that track kept you either in tactical units for SHORAD or operational/strategic units for HIMAD. I don't know if that's still the case, but that something to consider.
Once you completed traditional line time, many times ADA officers would serve as the A2C2 (Army Airspace Command and Control) officers along with a FA team and AV team to de-conflict the airspace.
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SGT Quality Control Technical Inspector
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
So as an LT, would you say you choose the right branch. As far as work (administrative/ leadership) is 50/50. What does an ADA LT job actually consist of? So to speak.
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LTC Jason Strickland
LTC Jason Strickland
>1 y
SGT (Join to see), please bear in mind that my experience is from 20 years ago. I'm certain A LOT has changed. If you're a SHORAD officer, then you're likely assigned to a divisional unit, going to the field frequently as well as NTC / JRTC. If you're assigned to a HIMAD outfit, then you're more static and in the rear with the gear...
No matter which, you're the leader of your platoon and you're expected to be the standard bearer, the planner, the tactical expert, etc.
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