The Air Defense Artillery School is the professional school of the Air Defense Artillery Branch of the US Army. It is at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The school was organized as the 6th ADA Brigade until 18 May 2012, when it was redesignated as the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The decision to redesignate the 6th ADA to 30th ADA was made after Col. Bill Stacey, the then-6th ADA commander, discovered that the 6th ADA had no official ADA colors.
Current status In June 2009, the Army Air Defense Artillery School and the 6th ADA Brigade relocated from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill. This move was a result of the 2005 BRAC moves. The motor transport operator (88M) course has moved to Fort Leonard Wood."Bliss' Transportation School graduates last 28 Soldiers" Fort Bliss Monitor, 11 June 2009 There is a new Army policy replacing drill sergeants at AIT with regular noncommissioned officers from front line units. This is to free up drill sergeants for basic training. ADA school website However, starting in 2018 Drill Sergeants made a comeback, somewhat due to 'disciplinary' issues amongst trainees.
The Brigade has two battalions in its current configuration. 2nd Battalion, 6th ADA Regiment, with C-RAM, Sentinel, Stinger/Avenger 3rd Battalion, 6th ADA Regiment, with MIM-104 Patriot, THAAD
Former Brigade Commanders COL Donald G. Fryc COL William M. Stacey COL James P. Payne COL David R. Baxter COL Maurice O. Barnett COL William M. Parker COL Tony L Dedmond Jr.
Former Command Sergeants Major CSM Bryan A. Pinkney CSM David C. Cowan CSM Timothy D. Hockenberry CSM Thomas L. Egan CSM John L. Young CSM Randy B. Gray CSM Melissa A. Calvo
See also Camp Davis
External links https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194507/http://www.airdefenseartillery.com/online/2010/CoastArtilleryHome.htm http://www.skylighters.org/places/intro.html