(M-CCC), although these positions are scarce with only a few available each session. Additionally, MAJ Bull wrote, “the ADA School and Noncommissioned Officer Academy program of instruction are under modernization to educate our leaders on maneuver doctrine and working with the Directorate of Training and Doc- trine to modernize professional military education courses” (Bull, 2024). Had SHORAD not condensed to only two bat- talions in the early 2000s, the talent that understood armor and maneuver would still be in our ranks today.
Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System Batteries
A U.S. Army Soldier, assigned to 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, directs the driver of his Maneuver Short Range Air Defense Stryker from the ‘tank commander’ hatch during Exercise Saber Strike 22 at BPTA, Poland on February 24, 2022. M-SHORAD defends maneuvering forces against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), rotary-wing and residual fixed-wing threats. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)
effectors that would soon join the active force. However, a few challenges remained, notably, who would teach these Soldiers how to employ the upgraded weapon system while implementing maneuver principles? The pool of air defenders who had served during the invasion of Iraq with mechanized or maneuver units had dwindled due to the drawdown, lea- ving only the most senior NCOs with re- levant experience.
The expansion of M-SHORAD has led to a surge in open, unfilled positions. The Air Defense branch will target combat arms CMFs that are downsizing, specifi- cally Armor, CMF 19. In email correspon- dence with MAJ Gabriel Bull who serves with the Office, Chief of Air Defense Ar- tillery (OCADA) said, “in support of the Army’s phased approach in this optimi- zation initiative, OCADA is executing a deliberate strategic marketing strategy to reach CMF 19 Soldiers and let them know their talents are aligned with our MOSs” (Bull, 2024). Soldiers from CMF 19 are the maneuver subject matter experts in the US Army and are one of the MOSs that are part of the previously mentioned 5% drawdown. These Soldiers can seam- lessly integrate with M-SHORAD and provide the maneuver knowledge that air defense forces lost with the war on terror. The era of sitting in a wood line
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waiting to engage an enemy aircraft detected on radar is over. M-SHORAD units will actively maneuver and engage with their counterparts, yet our leaders currently lack the necessary operational language. Efforts at the tactical and oper- ational levels to overcome this challenge include securing slots for our young officers at the Maneuver Captains Career Course
Another significant upgrade is the addition of Counter-small, Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) batteries assigned to DivAD battalions, as well as six stand- alone batteries that will serve as divis- ional assets. C-sUAS will protect ground forces from enemy unmanned aerial sys- tems (UAS). This capability is the Army’s response to the growing use of drones for surveillance, targeting of command -and-control nodes, infrastructure, and other critical assets. Combined with the lethality of the M-SHORAD Stryker, this capability will provide commanders with the tools necessary to counter A2/AD efforts by adversaries aiming to dominate
U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Still Photo of M-SHORAD during Saber Strike 2024 April 22 in Poland. During the exercise, Charlie Battery conducted live fire engagements alongside Romanian Geperd air defense vehicles in support of U.S. and NATO forces. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Alexander Watkins)
CAVALRY & ARMOR JOURNAL Fall 2024
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