Military

1-1. The mission of the United States Army is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. The Army does this by deterring war and, when deterrence fails, by achieving quick, decisive victory - on and off the battlefield - anywhere in the world and under virtually any conditions as part of a joint team. It does this by fulfilling its directed function of organizing, equipping, and training ready forces. The US national military strategy relies on an ability to rapidly deploy, employ, and sustain a joint force anywhere on the globe. This means that the conditions of Army operations can range from peace operations to high intensity conflict. These operations can occur in nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) environments, in all types of terrain, weather, and climate.

1-2. The air defense artillery brigade is essential to the Army’s theater and corps air and missile defense mission. It provides a focal point for the ADA defense design and promotes air and missile defense unity of effort within the theater. The ADA brigade focuses on protection of joint forces and theater assets. The ADA brigade provides force protection to maneuver units and other critical assets according to mission defense priorities. Air defense weapon systems of the ADA brigade provide responsive, day and night, all weather, all-altitude protection from aerial threats.

1-3. The ADA brigade mission is to protect the forces and selected geopolitical assets from aerial attack, missile attack, and surveillance. This mission may require the brigade to deploy within or to a theater of operations with tactical lift assets or strategic lift assets. Elements of the brigade may deploy early to protect a lodgment or early entry operations. The brigade may operate initially under the operational control (OPCON) of the joint forces land component commander (JFLCC) or joint forces air component commander (JFACC) as brigade forces flow into theater. During all phases of the operation, the brigade must be able to integrate into the theater air defense system and provide early warning of and defend against theater missiles (TMs), manned, and unmanned aircraft. The ADA brigade mission can range from TM defense of corps or joint force commander (JFC) activities or assets to reinforcing coverage of a divisional tactical maneuver.

1-4. The EAC brigade commands and coordinates the operations of subordinate ADA battalions/task forces and assigned or attached units in the theater in the conduct of force operations (FO) and engagement operations (EO) based on the theater commander’s intent as directed by the Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC). It provides the theater commander with air defense of designated high priority assets and organizations. The EAC ADA brigade may be required to move forward from theater positions to cover corps rear areas when the corps ADA brigade moves forward to cover forward corps assets. The EAC ADA brigade normally deploys as a part of the AAMDC. FM 3-01.94 addresses the operations of the AAMDC.

1-5. The corps ADA brigade protects designated assets in the corps area of operations from enemy air attack. It provides the corps commander air defense of high priority assets and organizations and provides overwatch of all forward divisions as part of the theater defense design.

1-6. The ADA brigade is structured to perform several essential functions. These functions are described in the following paragraphs.

1-7. The ADA brigade headquarters is staffed with personnel trained in the brigade's weapon systems, areas of supply, maintenance, and personnel support, as well as signal and intelligence. The ADA brigade staff also supports the commander in his air and missile defense coordinator (AMDCOORD) function. The command and control (C²) is effected from a mobile command post (CP) equipped for sustained 24-hour operations.

1-8. The ADA brigade has an automated fire direction center (FDC) that manages high to medium (HIMAD) engagement operations by providing fire distribution and fire direction to subordinate FDCs. This ensures that even in a maneuver operation, all HIMAD fires will be integrated and positively controlled. The ADA brigade headquarters includes a higher headquarters liaison section, staffed with senior ADA officers to perform face to face integration tasks with the appropriate AD C² element. Depending on the situation, this section can effect liaison with an air component air operations center, a ground component battlefield coordination detachment (BCD), a control and reporting center (CRC) or service equivalent, or an allied headquarters. The principle function of this liaison section is to ensure that brigade engagement operations are fully integrated into the airspace control plan and the procedural guidance for brigade operations.

1-9. The corps AMDCOORD has coordinating authority to ensure the synchronization of corps, divisional, EAC, and joint EW and AD assets within the corps AO. The corps ADA brigade headquarters includes an Air Defense Element (ADE) which collocates with the corps HQ to assist the brigade commander in executing his AMDCOORD duties. The ADE is staffed to support current operations, deep operations, and future plans within the corps main CP. The brigade will also provide LNO teams to the corps rear CP and tactical (TAC) CP. Depending on the situation, these may be placed in operational control (OPCON) to the ADE. The Corps ADA brigade also maintains close liaison with divisional ADA battalions and divisional CPs.

1-10. An EAC brigade commander may also serve as a deputy area air defense commander (DAADC) or as the JFLCC’s theater army air and missile defense coordinator (TAAMDCOORD). This may occur if an AAMDC is not deployed to the area of operations (AO). The ADA brigade establishes liaison with the necessary joint force C² elements, including an Air Force CRC.

1-11. The ADA brigade headquarters is responsible for providing early warning throughout the area of operations. It must develop the plan that allows all units to receive early warning of all air or missile threats.

1-12. The AAMDC provides a tailored air and missile defense command and control headquarters for joint operations. It performs theater level air and missile defense planning, coordination, and synchronization of the AO. The AAMDC executes the four pillars of Theater Missile Defense (TMD). The AAMDC commander commands the EAC ADA brigade and serves as the TAAMDCOORD and DAADC. The AAMDC provides LNO capability with key C² nodes throughout the theater. Limitations of the AAMDC are no organic signal capability and limited logistic readiness center capability.

1-13. The EAC ADA brigade is tailored to provide C² for Army component operations. It executes the tactical level engagement and force operations. The EAC brigade primarily conducts the active defense of the TMD pillars. The EAC ADA brigade commander commands assigned and attached ADA battalions. The brigade is capable of running a logistic readiness center. The EAC ADA brigade does not have the capability to provide LNO support.

1-14. Air defense is an element of joint defensive counterair (DCA) operations. DCA operations set the conditions for attacking the enemy to his operational and strategic depth and in doing so, help to protect the joint force. By contrast, AMD operations protect joint force land assets from air and missile attack and, in doing so, contribute to the attainment of joint DCA objectives. The desired endstate of both AMD and DCA operations is a joint force with the freedom to maneuver and attack in depth, while denying the enemy force the same capability. As a land force with the role of fighting in the air environment, ADA operations are inherently joint operations, in execution as well as planning and at all command levels. Since the corps may be directed to form a joint task force (JTF) headquarters, the corps AMDCOORD must understand all aspects of joint command and control and operations.

1-15. Central to the TM battle is the AMD Task Force (TF) concept. The Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot weapon systems will provide a two-tiered defense for high value assets located under their protective coverage. The collection of fire units that produce the coverage and their headquarters are designated an air and missile defense TF (AMDTF). The two tiers will provide near impenetrable defense, deny the enemy a preferred attack option, and support the theater and corps battles.

1-16. THAAD provides the upper tier defense against medium and short-range theater missiles. Patriot provides the lower tier defense, primarily against short-range ballistic missiles and other tactical missiles (cruise missiles and tactical air-to-surface missiles) and aerial platforms. The Patriot battalion provides the TF command and control. Figure 1-1 shows the protection coverage provided by the AMDTF.

1-17. The ADA brigade is organized to meet major Army command (MACOM) or brigade commander directives to accomplish the mission. Figure 1-2 illustrates a sample ADA Brigade organization. This organization shows a THAAD battery as part of the brigade for an AMDTF. The brigade will organize according to mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, and civil considerations (METT-TC) factors, the commander’s decision, and the situation.

1-18. The command section is composed of the brigade commander, deputy commander, command sergeant major, coordinating staff officers, chaplain, and signal officer (SIGO). The following paragraphs highlight the major responsibilities of each section. Further information is available in FM 6-99.

1-19. The commander provides leadership, direction, and guidance to his staff. The commander alone is responsible for all that his staff does or fails to do. He cannot delegate responsibility. He is responsible for training the staff to relay information and perform the mission to conform to his leadership style.

1-20. The Deputy Commander Officer (DCO) is the commander’s principal assistant for directing, coordinating, supervising, and training the staff. The DCO frees the commander from routine details and passes pertinent data, information, and insight from the staff to the commander and from the commander to the staff. He is responsible for establishing, managing, and enforcing the staff planning time line in accordance with the commander’s guidance.

1-21. The command sergeant major (CSM) is a member of the commander's personal staff. He is the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) of the command. The CSM is the commander's right hand for all matters concerning personal, professional, and technical advice on enlisted soldiers and the noncommissioned officer corps. His duties include monitoring and recommending actions on the morale and discipline of the command. He is required to make visits to subordinate units to monitor the morale and welfare of the enlisted soldier. He is authorized a vehicle and associated equipment.

1-22. The S1 is the principal staff officer for all matters concerning human resources. These resources include personnel readiness, personnel services, and headquarters management. Specific responsibilities of the S1 can be found in FM 6-99.

1-23. The S2 is the principal staff officer for all matters concerning military intelligence (MI), counterintelligence, security operations, and military intelligence training. Specific responsibilities of the S2 can be found in FM 6-99.

1-24. The S3 is the principal staff officer for all matters concerning training, operations and plans, and force development and modernization. The S3 is responsible for staff planning and supervision over electronic warfare (EW), operational security (OPSEC), and force protection. Specific responsibilities of the S3 can be found in FM 6-99.

1-25. The S4 is the principal staff officer for coordinating the logistics integration of supply, maintenance, transportation, and services for the command. He is the link between the support unit and his commander. The S4 not only coordinates activities but also executes requirements for the commander and unit. Specific responsibilities of the S4 can be found in FM 6-99.

1-26. The chaplain is the staff officer responsible for coordinating the religious assets and operations within the command. The chaplain is a confidential advisor to the commander for religious matters. Specific responsibilities of the chaplain can be found in FM 6-99.

1-27. The SIGO is the principal officer for all matters concerning communications operations and communications security. Specific responsibilities of the SIGO can be found in FM 6-99.

1-28. The ADA brigade weapon systems include the Patriot system, the THAAD system, the Avenger system, the Stinger system, and possibly the HAWK system, depending on multinational augmentation requirements. Figure 1-3 lists the capabilities of AMD weapon systems.

1-29. The ADA Brigade must be prepared to integrate a mix of active and reserve component units as well as various technical systems in organizing for ADA operations. The ADA Brigade itself may be a reserve component element integrating active component battalions or it may be an active unit assuming command of a roundout battalion. In either case, the ADA brigade is the focal point for solving technical and procedural interoperability problems and forming a cohesive organization. The ADA brigade also is the lead for establishing AD C² and early warning architecture throughout the theater. This includes linking to national warning systems as well as AD command and control systems.