Pittsburgh native, Fort Bragg NCO, supports air defense operations for Southwest Asia location

Photo By Sgt. Marsha Millikin | This photo shows the deployed headquarters for the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The 1-7 ADA, based in the U.S. at Fort Bragg, N.C., 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.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

06.17.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery

SOUTHWEST ASIA – At his deployed base, Sgt. Ryan Smallwood supports an important role in protection of the entire deployed population – air defense.

Smallwood is a Patriot missile systems fire control enhanced operator and senior engagement controller deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia with the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery. He is deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., and his hometown is Pittsburgh, Penn.

According to his U.S. Army job description, fire control enhanced operators like Smallwood are an important part of the Army's air defense artillery team. Patriot missile system teams are used to 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.

“I also serve as a squad leader who takes care of Soldiers,” Smallwood said, “and I’m a senior trainer for my Soldiers who serve in my position.”

The job description shows Soldiers in Smallwood’s military specialty perform march order and emplacement of the Patriot fire control section, fire direction section and associated equipment. They initialize and operate the information and coordination central, engagement control station, radar set, identification friend or foe interrogator, antenna mast group and remotely-located communications relay group.

Fire control enhanced operators also perform organizational-level system maintenance and preventative maintenance checks and services on fire control section and fire direction section equipment, the job description states. They evaluate target data and identify and engage targets and perform operations and intelligence duties. Sergeant Smallwood is also trained to provide technical guidance to junior Soldiers.

Smallwood said he is proud to do his deployed job and knows it is vital for the deployed mission.

“We’re here at our deployed base protecting the entire base so it is very important,” Sergeant Smallwood said.

As far as joining the military four years ago, Sergeant Smallwood said he is proud to serve.

“Serving in the military is awesome,” he said. “No fear!”

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: 06.17.2010
• Date Posted: 06.17.2010 06:20
• Story ID: 51532
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)