Patriot Battalion Achieves ‘First' In Deployment Exercise

Third Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery became the first Patriot battalion to employ the Dismounted Patriot Information Coordination Central (DPICC) during a mission rehearsal exercise.

- 1st Lt. Sallena Samuel

Just 12 months after their most recent redeployment from the U.S. Central Command area of operations, the Soldiers in 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Lethal Strike, are once again preparing to deploy. The Lethal Strike Battalion Soldiers concluded their rigorous six-month training strategy, achieving excellence during their culminating training event while integrating future planned Patriot modernization capabilities into the fight. The battalion executed its mission rehearsal exercise (MRE) Nov. 28 through Dec. 13, which certified the battalion’s ability to activate its rear detachment, exercise it’s prepare to deploy order short notice Patriot battery, and execute deployed split-based mission command, engagement operations, and force operations from within the Fort Sill Mission Training Complex and training areas.

The exercise replicated every aspect of their planned real-world deployment to the CENTCOM area of operations. The battalion coordinated with the Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate and Raytheon to use the new DPICC capability. In doing so, 3-2nd ADA became the first Patriot battalion to employ the DPICC during a mission rehearsal exercise. The DPICC relocates the battalion’s Information Coordination Central (ICC) tactical weapons control system from a vehicle into an external shelter. This provides the same capabilities as the original tactically mounted system, but enables flexibility for battalions with geographically separated missions. The system serves as the battalion-level tactical command and control center that directs identification and engagement orders to subordinate Patriot batteries.

Testing a new system can be challenging, however, 3-2nd ADA proved to be up to this task.