United States Army Air Defense Artillery School

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= United States Army Air Defense Artillery School


caption=United States Army Air Defense Artillery School shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= ??-present
country= United States of America
allegiance=
branch= United States Army
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=
garrison=Fort Bliss
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=distinctive unit insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=6th Air Defense Artillery coat of arms

The U.S. Army's Air Defense Artillery School is conducted at Fort Bliss, Texas.The school is organized as the 6th ADA Brigade under TRADOC. 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) and one company that trains army truck drivers (MOS 88M). The other five battalions of 6th Brigade were units for training 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

1-56 ADA has been broken up, the soldiers assigned to different battalions based on their Military Occupational Specialty and systems they will train on: 2-6 ADA has C-RAM, Sentinel, and Stinger/Avenger, 3-6 ADA has Patriot. 88M and officer training are only functions of 1-56 today. 6th Brigade will move from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill as part of the 2005 BRAC moves. After the school moves to Fort Sill, the 88M course will move to Fort Leonard Wood. There is a new army policy getting rid of Drill Sergeants at AIT. Their place will be taken by regular noncommissioned officers from front line units. This is to free up Drill Sergeants for basic.

Further changes are coming due the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and changes in the Army's transformation. The new air defense school will be located at near the Field Artillery school.