The US Army’s air defense units are among the most overworked in the US military, manning missile systems across the globe to provide around-the-clock deterrence against adversaries including Russia, North Korea, China and Iran.
As demands stack up with the war in Ukraine and other looming concerns, US military leaders have warned that the country’s front line missile defense units could be stretched too thin.
A strain on personnel: The situation became so severe that in 2020, the service conducted a survey of air defense soldiers and families, and have recently been working to implement changes to offload some of the pressure those soldiers and their families are feeling.
The Army is offering $47,500 enlistment bonuses to attract more candidates for certain air defense jobs, including operating Patriot missile batteries, the advanced air defense system the US has provided to Ukraine.
It’s also embedded mental health specialists into air defense units around the world in an effort to address burnout.
The Army’s air defense branch is among the most frequently deployed branches of the service, with almost 60% of its total force deployed at any one time. On average, air defense soldiers were found to have less than a year at home after a year-long deployment.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, US air defense soldiers stationed in Europe have had to deploy with just hours’ notice to protect NATO’s Eastern flank and assist in training Ukraine.
Meanwhile in the Pacific, the US military is increasing its presence in the region to prepare for a possible future conflict with China. All of this is in addition to an ongoing mission in the Middle East, though the Pentagon has reduced some commitments in the region.
“We have been overworked and undermanned,” one senior Army air defense officer told CNN. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.
An urgent training mission in Ukraine: The need for a strong air defense has been on display as Ukraine works to thwart relentless attacks by the Russian military. This weekend, Russian forces used Iranian-made drones in overnight strikes on Ukraine’s capital, but Kyiv’s air defenses destroyed all the drones, according to city leaders.
For the US soldiers tasked with providing defense for partners, as well as training Ukrainians to operate their own air defense systems, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Master Sgt. Carlos Retana, a Patriot Master Gunner, led the US Patriot training for Ukrainians in Europe after they trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The training was unlike anything he’d seen in his 23 years in the Army, Retana told CNN. Ukrainian troops ranged drastically in age and military experience, and very real consequences hung over the training as US troops sought to teach their Ukrainian counterparts everything they know.
Retana said ultimately, the US trainers were “praying that what we did was sufficient” before sending trainees back to the front lines.
“At the very end, it was bittersweet — it was happy that the training was complete, and that (the Ukrainians) were successful,” Retana said. “But it was also a very worrisome and heavy burden to think they’re headed into the wolf’s den … to go fight.”
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