552nd ACW Airmen develop integrated opportunities with U.S. Army

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  • By 552d Air Control Wing

Ten Airmen from the 752nd and 552nd Operational Support Squadrons traveled to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, recently to develop integrated training opportunities with U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery personnel to better prepare for large-scale combat operations.

Supporting the E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning and Control System, the 552nd OSS provides operations and training support to 1,600 flight and mission crew members across four airborne air control squadrons: the 960th, 963rd, 964th and 965th AACS.

The 752nd OSS provides full-spectrum operations, maintenance and readiness support for two geographically-separated air control squadrons, 726th and 729th ACS, and one airborne communication network squadron, the 552nd ACNS, on behalf of the 552nd Air Control Group. The 726th and 729th ACS conduct battle management, command and control operations from the ground-based Control and Reporting Center.

The team’s visit began at the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (5-5) where they received an orientation on the Short Range Air Defense systems which included the Avenger missile system, Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System and AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar. OSS personnel also observed an operations center simulation showcasing crew coordination and engagement operations.

The second half of the day was spent observing 10 crew members from the 31st ADA conduct a mission in the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target simulation lab followed by a system capabilities briefing. Discussions included network requirements to conduct distributed training via datalinks through the Army’s Joint Training Enterprise Network.

This orientation closed information gaps on the simulation capabilities and connections needed for future in-garrison integration and training opportunities. Once these capabilities are established, it will be the first known in-garrison training between 552nd Air Control Wing and Air Defense Artillery units, a key strategic objective for the wing.   

In September, 21 ADA Captains’ Career Course students from Fort Sill visited the 552nd ACW where they received immersion briefings and tours of the CRC and AWACS. This immersion tour for the course is a key component for integration and happens periodically throughout the year. 

“The Integrated Air and Missile Defense is an inherent joint team mission,” said Col. Kenneth Voigt, 552nd ACG commander. “Air Force battle management and C2 warriors will work alongside Army air defenders in combat. It is essential we foster and build our teams in peace so we can excel in combat.”

Additionally, several 31st ADA members will travel to the 726th ACS, stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, in October to conduct their combat proficiency assessments and pre-deployment integration training with operations crews.