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The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command serves as the U.S. Army Europe’s executive agent for all theater air and missile defense operations and force management out of Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern.
Formally known as 357th Air and Missile Defense Detachment, 10th AAMDC was activated on Oct. 17, 2011, but wasn’t fully recognized until the redesignation ceremony on Jan. 5.
The 10th AAMDC vigorously participates in events such as cross-combatant command and global ballistic missile defense seminars, table top exercises, integrated AMD information sharing, and alliance building as it deploys Patriot units quarterly to Poland to conduct multinational training events.
“We have become a doctrinally sound organization that is comparable to the other combatant commands,” said Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Ogden, 10th AAMDC chief of staff. “Each combatant command doctrinally needs an AAMDC to help facilitate the air and missile defense operations and to provide the needed and necessary capability within the European command the 357th AMD could not provide.”
Currently, the 10th AAMDC is manned, trained and equipped to communicate, shoot and move across any theater of operations. Their competence and proficiency rests on four pillars: Soldier and family readiness, equipment readiness, training readiness, and combat readiness.
“I am absolutely confident with this unit’s capabilities, motivation and dedication that our troops display daily,” said Sgt. Milo Estrello, administrative assistant noncommissioned officer in charge for 10th AAMDC. “I can sleep at night knowing my son will be OK because of the work that is done by 10th AAMDC.”
“Knowing that in a minute’s time we can be called upon to protect our assets makes it a very rewarding experience to be a european defender,” said Sgt. Andrew Boyer, a squad leader for Delta Battery 5-7 ADA.
In addition to their missions, 10th AAMDC conducts training readiness authority over the 5-7 ADA BN and the 11th Missile Defense Detachment. This generates a well-trained air defense Patriot battalion where individuals, as well as collective readiness training, is completed.
With the importance of ballistic missile defense increasing around the world, the 10th AAMDC is a critical asset to the U.S. European Command and the symbol of air defense across Europe.
