Constituted over 100 years ago, the 11th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade underwent nine name changes in the first eight decades of its existence before the Army settled on the current designation in 1980.
Originally known as the 133rd Company, Coast Artillery Corps, it was designated Battery A, 56th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) and elements of the unit were deployed to Europe during World War I, earning it official credit for participation in the Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne 1918 campaigns. In World War II, following a mind-numbing series of reconstitutions, redesignations, and consolidations, what eventually became the 11th ADA Brigade garnered credit for participation in five campaigns, including the D-Day invasion landings at Normandy.
Nicknamed “Imperial Brigade,” the unit deployed to Saudi Arabia to take part in Operation Desert Storm, earning a Valorous Unit Award (Saudi Arabia and Bahrain) in the process, due in no small part to the fact that the Brigade’s Patriot batteries recorded the first-ever intercept of a ballistic missile in combat on the night of January 18-19, 1991. The brigade also took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its actions during 2002 and 2003.
Currently stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, the 11th ADA Brigade stands ready to deploy combat-ready units worldwide in support of the 32nd Army Air Missile and Defense Command’s mission to protect a combatant commander’s critical priorities.
Anyone who has seen the flash from an artillery piece understands why yellow (gold) and scarlet are associated with Artillery units, and these colors form the basis for the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s Combat Service Identification Badge, or CSIB. The concept of air defense—defending against incoming threats with intercepting fire—is represented by the two opposed arrowheads, which form the two Roman numerals X and I to represent the unit’s numerical designation of 11. This number is also cleverly displayed on the brigade's unit Crest. Neither the CSIB or unit crest of the 11th ADA Brigade contains the unit's motto, "Trained to Fight!"
Related Items
11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Unit Patch (SSI)
11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)