THAAD families get glimpse of Army’s newest equipment

Pvt. Robert Reed, one of the equipment subject-matter experts, keeps watch as family members get a closer look at the components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system during the A Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery (THAAD) family equipment tour on 11th ADA Brigade’s Patriot Field Aug. 11. Photo by 1st Lt. Jason Welch, A Btry., 2nd ADA (THAAD).

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Fisher,
A Btry., 2nd ADA (THAAD):

Soldiers often find it difficult to communicate to their families what they do on a daily basis. Soldiers’ jobs are filled with acronyms and terms that most people outside of the military have never heard of, and tasks that involve equipment others have never seen. In a time when frequent deployments are a reality, Soldiers need to be able to explain their jobs to their loved ones now more than ever.

The Soldiers of A Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) – the Army’s newest THAAD unit – took a break from training to host a family equipment tour on the 11th ADA Brigade’s Patriot Field here Aug. 11 to allow the Soldiers time to show their families the equipment they work with on a daily basis.

The event, organized by 1st Lt. Lerin Hester, Headquarters Platoon leader, included a launcher, a fire control component and the four-piece radar to allow the family members the opportunity to see and touch the rarely seen equipment. Subject-matter experts on each of the system components were on hand to answer family members’ questions.

Families were able to get hands-on experience with the THAAD equipment for the first time.

“My son had a great time on the equipment,” said Spc. William Harris, a launch control station operator for the unit, who also enjoyed the family time during the unit’s high operational tempo training.

Most Soldiers shared Harris’ opinion.

“It was fun to sit at the same seat that my dad does,” said Hunter Lee, 12-year-old son of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jon Lee, the battery’s trainer.

The day culminated with an outdoor lunch provided by the unit’s food service specialists while families sat with their Soldiers and talked about their roles and responsibilities within the unit. The family visit brought the Soldiers and their families together and helped them reach a new level of understanding and communication about what their Soldiers do for a living and how they impact the fight.

The battery now resumes training to continue to prepare its Soldiers to accomplish the THAAD weapon system’s air defense mission.

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