United States Army Air Defense Artillery School

The United States Army Air Defense Artillery School is conducted at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The school is organized as the 6th ADA Brigade under the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Formerly based at Fort Bliss, until 1990 the base was used for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), under the 1–56 ADA Regiment, part of 6th ADA. Before 1989, 1–56 had three basic training companies and two AIT batteries. After 1990, 1–56 dropped basic training, that mission assumed by Fort Sill. The unit had four batteries for enlisted AIT, one battery for the Officer's Basic Course and Captain's Career Course (added in 2004). In 1997, one company was added that trained Army truck drivers (MOS 88M). It started with Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers, then the unit expanded to train regular soldiers as well.

The other five battalions of 6th Brigade were units for training soldiers on various weapon systems. Numerous foreign soldiers have trained at the school, either because of exchange programs or to train on U.S. system sold to their governments.

Current status

After 2005, 1–56 ADA was broken up, the soldiers were assigned to different battalions based on their Military Occupational Specialty and systems they train on: 2–6 ADA has C-RAM, Sentinel, and Stinger/Avenger, 3–6 ADA has Patriot. Officer training is the only function of 1–56 ADA today. 6th Brigade has moved from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill as part of the 2005 BRAC moves. As the school moves to......
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