1 st Battalion, 3 rd Air Defense Artillery Operation Iraqi Freedom Lessons Learned Air and Missile Defense Commander’s Conference United States Air Defense Artillery School and Fort Bliss, Texas 28 October 2003

 Air Defense Operations and Early Warning  Air Space Command and Control  Participated in every major battle. Killed over 500 Iraqi combatants, destroyed 5 tanks, rocket launchers, multiple RPG teams, and over 100 military vehicles  Captured and processed over 1000 EPWs  Non-traditional missions as separate maneuver battalion - LOC Security - 80 km of battle space for 3ID - Zone Recon, clear, blocking positions - SOSO, Civil Affairs, and Humanitarian Support - High Value Asset (HVA) Security - Security of Baghdad International Airport - Established city government and council for city of Abu Grahib vicinity Baghdad - Conducted US/Iraqi raids on arms dealers - Captured 14 th Mech IN Brigade, Republican Guard HQs OIF PARTICIPATION 1 st BATTALION, 3 rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

 Conducted multiple missions with attached BRT, tank platoon, attack aviation, engineer company, chemical company, and tactical PSYOPS teams (TPTs)  Secured F-18 crash site and provided security for recovery operations  Assumed responsibility for movement and security of PATRIOT within division’s battle space  Responsible for decision to emplace PATRIOT minimum engagement battery at HAA Yellow to cover 3ID crossing sites on the Euphrates River  Embedded media accompanied BN from Kuwait to Baghdad  No soldiers lost or severely wounded during OEF/OIF  No fratricide OIF PARTICIPATION 1 st BATTALION, 3 rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

Collapsed battalion command post and ADCOORD section within DMAIN and DTAC CPs Long haul communications inadequate SHORAD OIF participation mandates change to branch role - Requires enhanced cruise missile capable systems - Need counter rocket, artillery, and mortar systems (RAM) - Provide RAM early warning to maneuver commanders Improve HTUs to expand situational awareness and graphics Acquire FBCB2 capability for key leaders and C2 IFF equipment proved very durable and reliable. Sustain training with UAV and ATK AVN units JTIDS radios proved invaluable on noncontiguous battlefield. Must have repair parts in active theaters Need to develop a common air & missile defense command post for all battalions – “plug and play” OIF LESSONS LEARNED 1 st BATTALION, 3 rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

Provide M2s for BN/BTRY commanders, S3 and PSGs. Must be able to C2 and fight forward with units in air and ground role Avenger extremely vulnerable and unable to fight forward AMDWS too bulky and hard drives unreliable – need laptops CDS broken in active theater; non-availability of repair parts Early warning severely degraded and unreliable during extensive maneuver operations. Little time to set radars Multi-functional capability of divisional air defense battalion provided an additional maneuver battalion for the division commander – “Every soldier a rifleman first” Avengers and M2/M6s provided a 2-for-1 capability PATRIOT – smaller batteries with better prime movers Re-evaluate command and support relationships between PATRIOT and maneuver commanders OIF LESSONS LEARNED 1 st BATTALION, 3 rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 st BATTALION, 3 rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY Questions?