What is the life of an ADA officer?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:12:55 -0500

Comments or messages would be great, as too I'm looking ahead for future branches.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Mar 6 at 2017 3:22 PM

LTC Jason Strickland — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:22:23 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, 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.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 6 at 2017 11:09 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 23:09:32 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Might I ask... why you are asking... ADA is among the branches that get made to do many things other than ADA... as we have/had no real Air Threat... I know ADA folks will disagree... But, watching accessions from both ROTC and USMA... ADA is always left no matter what your OML ranking or class rank... So too was Signal, Logistics all, Chemical, and FA.
I was commissioned Combat Arms (no Maneuver, Fire, and Effects), not by choice, but because at the time OCS was filling shortages in the ranks. I selected Armor, as it seemed cooled, compared other options like FA or Infantry. Again, why do you ask, and I will get you a better answer...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2017 11:49 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 23:49:10 -0500

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.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2017 11:30 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 11:30:08 -0500

It depends on the unit and job. Officers tend to do the typical troop leading things or work on staff. If in an Avenger unit they work short range (SHORAD) working on protecting the forces on the ground. Patriot units work theater level protecting Corps level units from attack. Then there are THAAD units that protect against ballistic missiles that can another country outside the battlefield.
Then there are ADAM cells are BDE and Air Missile Defense cells at Division and Corps. They typically plan the protection and ensure the emplacement of critical assets that are vulnerable to air attacks.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2017 7:07 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 07:07:34 -0500

ADA officer is a job that is looking up.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2017 2:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 14:20:50 -0400

I commissioned last year as an ADA Officer. I would say most Officer jobs will be similar on the day to day. However, as an ADA Officer, your experience will be very different depending on if you are HIMAD or SHORAD. As far as compared to other branches, it really differs on training expectations (METL) and field time. A huge perk is deployment locations as a global defensive asset. So, instead of being stuck in Iraq or Afghanistan, you have other locations like Guam, Kuwait, Jordan and a few others that are officially listed as "undisclosed" so I should not mention them on here. Either way, no matter what branch you go to, it is what you make of it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2023 7:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:40:20 -0400

Stay away from ADA , very inefficient branch and the least preferred branch as of 2023 rn. so many toxic people and higher ups have no clue how ADA operates so the Pain is solely on soldiers. it is combat MOS but the softest combat arms. no body sees ADA as combat MOS FA will laugh at you if you say ADA is Combat MOS. that is why they put soldiers on standby for days still figuring shit out at the battalion level, officers and chiefs.