Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Army Staff Sgt. Michael Sondles, non-commissioned officer in charge of the Supply...... read more read more
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- At a non-disclosed base here, Staff Sgt. Michael Sondles has a critical job for his deployed unit — managing the Supply Support Activity, or SSA, for the deployed Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery.
Sondles' unit, the 1-7 ADA from Fort Bragg, N.C., is one of the U.S. Army's designated unit's providing air defense capabilities for deployed bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In completing their mission to maintain a strategic crisis response air defense artillery brigade providing air defense force protection from air breathing threats and tactical ballistic missiles using the PATRIOT (Phased Array Tracking Intercept of Target) missile system, Sergeant Sondles said he stays pretty busy.
"I'm the noncommissioned officer in charge of the SSA," Sondles said. "We receive, process, store and issue all Army parts that come into the base."
The eight-year Army veteran said his office's support helps keep the myriad pieces of equipment and vehicles operational. In the PATRIOT missile system, for example, there are many operational parts that have to be looked after.
For example, according to the Army fact file on the system, there is the fire unit which consists of a phased array radar set and engagement control station, an electric power plant, an antenna mast group, a communications relay group, and up to eight launching stations.
"The SSA's job is important here because we keep everything on the Army side of the house running," Sergeant Sondles said. "We receive all the Patriot parts -- which help keep this base safe. We receive all parts to keep the vehicles and weapons operational. So I would say our job here is pretty important."
On his second one-year deployment, Sondles said he enjoys serving in the military and that excelling in his job is thanks to his fellow Soldiers and his chain of command. "Without them, my job could be three times as hard as it is now," he said.
He said he believes the Army has helped him improve his life in many ways and is glad to be serving in the military.
"Being in the Army has made me a better person," said Sondles, whose hometown is Charleston, S.C. "I enjoy my job and I enjoy the military. I just re-enlisted for three more years while deployed. I plan on making this my career and doing 20. If I'm still in good shape, I might squeeze in 25."
The 1-7 ADA is known as the "No Fear" battalion, according to its official history. The battalion is part of the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command. The battalion displays 35 battle streamers ranging from the North African desert and the plains of Europe during World War II, the frozen battlefields of Korea, the jungles and highlands of Vietnam, the deserts of Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm to more recently with support for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2010 13:25 |
| Story ID: | 47906 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 675 |
| Downloads: | 511 |
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