Fort Bragg sergeant, Port Washington native, supports air defense operations in Southwest Asia

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | U.S. Army Sgt. Peter Gehrke is a Patriot fire control enhanced operator with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion of the 7th Air Defense Artillery at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The four-year Army veteran plays a role in a missile system team used launch advanced-technology ammunition capable of neutralizing multiple air targets. He is deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., and his hometown is Port Washington, Wis.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

05.04.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Supporting the air defense mission for a Southwest Asia base takes a concentrated effort by a variety of specialties. For Sgt. Peter Gehrke, that effort requires maintaining and operating the fire control system of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

Gehrke is a Patriot fire control enhanced operator with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion of the 7th Air Defense Artillery at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The four-year Army veteran plays a role in a missile system team used launch advanced-technology ammunition capable of neutralizing multiple air targets. The Patriot missile system consists of a control station, power plant, communication relay group and up to eight launching stations.

According to his official U.S. Army job description, Soldiers like Gehrke perform march orders and emplacement of the fire control section, the fire direction section and associated equipment. He initializes and operates the information and coordination central, engagement control station, radar set, identification friend or foe interrogator, antenna mast group, and remotely located communications relay group.

Gehrke, who is deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., also performs organizational level system maintenance and preventive maintenance checks and services on fire control section and fire direction section equipment, the job description states. He evaluates target data and identifies and engages targets and performs operations and intelligence duties.

Furthermore, Soldiers like Gehrke provides technical guidance to lower grade personnel, supervises and performs organizational level system maintenance and preventive maintenance checks and services on fire control section and fire direction section equipment.

In joining the military four years ago, Gehrke said he's proud made the choice to serve.

"I enjoy serving in the U.S. Army," said Gehrke, whose hometown is Port Washington, Wisc. "I joined to experience a different lifestyle and travel to different places and meet new people. My grandfather and father also served so I wanted to serve as well."

The 1-7 ADA is known as the "No Fear" battalion, according to its official history. The battalion is part of the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The battalion displays 35 battle streamers ranging from the North African desert and the plains of Europe during World War II, the frozen battlefields of Korea, the jungles and highlands of Vietnam, the deserts of Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm to more recently with support for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2010
• Date Posted: 05.04.2010 09:07
• Story ID: 49087
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)