Military

39th Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) -- Since before the war with Iraq began, the U.S. and Turkish governments have been working diligently to plan for any support for contingency operations in Turkey.  As a result of that planning, NATO sent Patriot missile batteries to protect Turkey from attacks from Iraq, in an operation dubbed "Display Deterrence."

Task Force 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Brigade from Hanau, Germany, along with Patriot missile batteries from the Netherlands were deployed to Turkey to support the operation.

This isn't the first time an Army patriot missile battery has deployed here. They were here during Desert Storm in 1991 and they were here to support a contingency operation in 1997.

"Some of us deployed here in January to conduct a site survey to basically choose a suitable location to set up the battery," said Army Chief Warrant Officer Nathaniel Jones, Task Force 5-7ADA training and evaluations officer. "We also worked out east near Diyarbakir and Batman where the Dutch Patriot batteries are operating."

If a tactical ballistic missile was fired from Iraq, the battalion's job was to fire a patriot to intercept the incoming missile - protecting the Turkish people from threats from Iraq and protecting vital U.S. assets in the region.

In order to complete their mission, they had to work closely with U.S. and Turkish military officials.

Patriot battalion personnel coordinated with Turkish Air Force officials to ensure 10th Tanker and 39th Wing leadership had a solid understanding of the Patriot Missile System by teaching them how the battalion conducts business.

"We had to establish a tactical ballistic missile early warning architecture and engagement procedures between the Turkish Air Force and the U.S. Air Force," said Jones. "We devised a method to tie in the infrastructure that currently exists here with the equipment we have in order to alert Turkish and U.S. Air Force personnel of an impending attack on the base as well as a launch of a patriot missile to ensure de-confliction of the airspace."

In order to establish a peaceful working environment, Jones taught Turkish and U.S. Air Force personnel their rules of engagement - mainly to ease concerns of a possible fratricide incident.

Luckily, no patriots were launched and the battalion is now getting ready to head home.

"Right now, no one is sure where we'll be needed in the future, however, we're prepared in case that need arises," Jones said. "We are conducting thorough close-outs with everyone who would need to support us in the future such as wing safety, 39th Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight and the logistics readiness center. If Incirlik has to support a patriot battalion, we won't have to re-invent the wheel."

Jones said they wouldn't have gotten anything accomplished without the help of Turkish and U.S. Air Force personnel.

"Everything fell into place and it's largely because the 39th Wing and 10th Tanker Base was ready to support us," he said. "They bent over backwards to help us. They met our operational requirements without any reservations and that's what made our relationship work and lead to complete mission success."

-- USAFENS --