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South Korea-based 35th ADA poised for danger

By Heike Hasenauer
Soldiers magazine
October 10, 2006

OSAN AIR BASE, Korea (Army News Service, Oct. 10, 2006) – You know you’ve arrived at a real-world hotspot where the potential for danger is palpable when you see a U2 spy plane lift off and disappear over the horizon and a U.S. Patriot missile battery “hot” crew spring into action.

Soldiers of the Osan-based C Battery, 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery - part of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade – in their rotation as the battery’s on-call crew, underwent an operational readiness exercise to ensure the “live” Patriot missiles positioned toward North Korea are, in fact, ready to launch at a moment’s notice.

The eight Patriot launchers in C Btry. alone are critical to the defense of the air base where U.S. and Republic of Korea military air assets are located.

The drill tested the crew’s communication skills and response times to complete various technical checks of the missile system to get it up and running in response to a potential missile attack from North Korea, said battalion executive officer Maj. Roland Quidachay.

As part of the launcher platoon, Spc. Daniel Nebrida checked missile switches and ensured the generator that fires the missiles heated sufficiently to do so. Another crewmember checked cable-to-missile canister connections.

The 35th ADA is the only air defense brigade in the Pacific, said Col. John Rossi, brigade commander.

Composed of two battalions of missile batteries that collectively boast PAC-3-level Patriot missile and Avenger missile capabilities, “we’re spread over some 389 kilometers, from the top of the [South Korean] peninsula to the bottom," added Maj. J.M. Rose, brigade operations officer.

From the brigade operations center at Osan Air Base, unit officials can monitor potential threats via joint satellite images.

These show aircraft locations and missile launches, not only from North Korea but Russia, China and Saudi Arabian training launches as well, Rose said.