Fort Bliss Monitor

1-44 ADA unfurls colors, welcomed to Bliss

Spc. Mark Miranda
11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Lt. Col. William E. Bales, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Randy N. Leatherwood unfurl the colors of 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery during a ceremony welcoming the unit to Fort Bliss. The battalion will be fully activated in the months ahead.

A ceremony to commemorate the activation of 1-44 Air and Missile Defense Battalion (provisional) was held at the Fort Bliss Air Defense Artillery Museum Friday.

Following the symbolic unfurling of the battalion’s colors, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade formally welcomed its newest battalion.

“This ceremony today opens a new chapter in history for the Soldiers and families of the 11th ADA Bde., the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and the branch in which we all proudly serve. Just as yesterday’s presidential inauguration and celebrations mark the beginning of a new period in time for our country; today’s ceremony marks the latest achievement in the transformation of air and missile defense,” said 11th ADA Bde. Commander, Col. Randy A. Buhidar.

“We face the imperative of swift action in our new and rapidly changing security environment, and the 11th ‘Imperial’ Bde. and 1-44 AMD Battalion are meeting this imperative with imagination, innovation and energy. Changes that used to take years to implement are now taking place in months and sometimes weeks,” Buhidar said.

“Transformation is not as simple as purchasing new technologies, new systems or new platforms; we must do this by rebalancing, restructuring, improving training methods, adapting doctrine and educating leaders,” added Buhidar. “[The] 1-44 Air and Missile Defense Bn. represents the new air and missile defense force that will meet both the challenging and changing demands in the 21st century and beyond. I couldn’t be more proud of the past accomplishments of the ‘strike first’ battalion, and I couldn’t be more excited about them joining the 11th ‘Imperial’ Bde. team.”

“Before you stands the humble beginnings of what will soon be the most powerful and feared air and missile defense formation in the world,” said Lt. Col. William E. Bales, commander of 1-44 ADA.

“In a branch that has been too long been divided … between HIMAD and SHORAD; we represent the first true mixed breed of air defender. We will form together, learn together, and fight together. We will combine the best of our knowledge and experiences,” added Bales. “This new air and missile defense Soldier meets the needs of the more modular and tailorable force that our Army is building today. They are not only a necessity for the future, they are a requirement of now.”

The 11th ADA Bde. will continue to develop the battalion, ultimately working toward the full activation of the 1-44 AMD Bn. in July.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 27, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	1-44 ADA unfurls colors, welcomed to Bliss Spc. Mark Miranda 11th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Lt. Col. William E. Bales, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Randy N. Leatherwood unfurl the colors of 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery during a ceremony welcoming the unit to Fort Bliss. The battalion will be fully activated in the months ahead. A ceremony to commemorate the activation of 1-44 Air and Missile Defense Battalion (provisional) was held at the Fort Bliss Air Defense Artillery Museum Friday. Following the symbolic unfurling of the battalion’s colors, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade formally welcomed its newest battalion. “This ceremony today opens a new chapter in history for the Soldiers and families of the 11th ADA Bde., the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and the branch in which we all proudly serve. Just as yesterday’s presidential inauguration and celebrations mark the beginning of a new period in time for our country; today’s ceremony marks the latest achievement in the transformation of air and missile defense,” said 11th ADA Bde. Commander, Col. Randy A. Buhidar. “We face the imperative of swift action in our new and rapidly changing security environment, and the 11th ‘Imperial’ Bde. and 1-44 AMD Battalion are meeting this imperative with imagination, innovation and energy. Changes that used to take years to implement are now taking place in months and sometimes weeks,” Buhidar said. “Transformation is not as simple as purchasing new technologies, new systems or new platforms; we must do this by rebalancing, restructuring, improving training methods, adapting doctrine and educating leaders,” added Buhidar. “[The] 1-44 Air and Missile Defense Bn. represents the new air and missile defense force that will meet both the challenging and changing demands in the 21st century and beyond. I couldn’t be more proud of the past accomplishments of the ‘strike first’ battalion, and I couldn’t be more excited about them joining the 11th ‘Imperial’ Bde. team.” “Before you stands the humble beginnings of what will soon be the most powerful and feared air and missile defense formation in the world,” said Lt. Col. William E. Bales, commander of 1-44 ADA. “In a branch that has been too long been divided … between HIMAD and SHORAD; we represent the first true mixed breed of air defender. We will form together, learn together, and fight together. We will combine the best of our knowledge and experiences,” added Bales. “This new air and missile defense Soldier meets the needs of the more modular and tailorable force that our Army is building today. They are not only a necessity for the future, they are a requirement of now.” The 11th ADA Bde. will continue to develop the battalion, ultimately working toward the full activation of the 1-44 AMD Bn. in July.