Second Lt. Ben Mayhew, right, briefs Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, left, on THAAD operations during Joint Project Optic Windmill, a joint combined missile-defense exercise held Sept. 5 through 19 at De Peel Royal Air Force Base in the Netherlands.
Photo by Anthony Cooper.

THAAD Soldiers participate in joint missile-defense exercise

2nd Lts. Michael Jensen and Ben Mayhew

1st Bn. 43rd ADA

VENRAY, Netherlands – Eight Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense Soldiers from A Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, participated in one of the largest joint combined missile defense exercises in the world at De Peel Royal Air Force Base Sept. 5 through 19. 

Joint Project Optic Windmill brought together numerous weapon systems and seven nations for the exercise. Thousands of Soldiers from the various nations conducted a simulated missile- and air-defense exercise throughtout the course of three weeks. This was also the first time the Fort Bliss crews were exposed to a multinational, multiservice environment. 

Upon arriving at De Peel, the A/4 ADA Soldiers took part in the planning and experiment portion of the exercise. THAAD Battery operators provided government contractors with suggestions of how to improve the overall performance of the system for successful future operations of the THAAD weapon system. The planning and the experiment portion of the exercise ran about three days, which led to the actual air battle exercise.

“It was a great opportunity for us as the first THAAD fire unit to show our allies what we are capable of bringing to the table,” said Staff Sgt. Daryl Way.

During the exercise one crew of THAAD Soldiers was tasked to defend a large geographic region from long-range missiles. Another THAAD crew was simultaneously tasked to defend more than 25 assets from medium-range missiles. 

“I’ve never fought an air battle like that,” said Pfc. Steven Formalarie. “It got pretty intense, but our training proved valuable to our success throughout the operation.”

One portion of the trip involved a visit to the THAAD tent by the director of the Missile Defense Agency, the commander of Space and Missile Defense Command, and the highest-ranking air defense officer in the Army, Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell. Campbell took the time to talk to A/4 Soldiers about the future of THAAD and address any other questions on the Soldiers’ minds. He commented on the high demand for THAAD in many global theaters and the importance of the system to future air defense operations. 

“JPOW is one of the best-planned and -executed exercises that we will play in,” said Chief Warrant Officer John Fallin, who has participated in previous joint air defense exercises. “The Soldiers performed above and beyond expectations and truly made a positive impression on our NATO allies with regards to the United States military, and more specifically, the THAAD weapon system.”