July-August - Air Defense Artillery

The AAA RTC, Fort Bliss, Texas
CO:\.1BAT soldiers who have been
trained in the Army's only Antiaircraft
Artillery Replacement Training Center,
at Fort Bliss, Texas. are now serving in
the Far East and in Europe.
Since its establishment on August 10,
1950, the AAA RTC has trained more
than 13,000 soldiers. Approximately half
as many more are currently in or about
to begin their cycles of instruction.
The AAA RTC is commanded by
Colonel Earl W. Heathcote. Major General
John T. Lewis, commanding the
AA and GM Center, also takes an active
interest and hand in all of its operations.
The primary mission of theAAA RTC
is to receh'e, train and ship as automatic
weapons crewmen or heavy antiaircraft
artillery cannoneers pipeline personnel
who preYiously have received their basic
training in one of the several training didsions
,":ithin the continental United
States. The trainees get eight weeks
training in the AAA RTC after they
have completed six weeks in the basic
training division. A secondary mission is
to train as basic soldiers for post units all
untrained personnel received from reception
centers. These trainees also get
an eight weeks training course adapted
to the specific needs.
As currently organized, the AAA RTC
includes one group of six battalions of
four batteries each. Frequently general
resen'e AAA units or provisional battalions
are also attached to provide facility
for temporary expansion of the RTC.
Recently Colonel Heathcote has expanded
the activity to meet a specific
need. The recently federalized National
Guard battalions arrive at far below T/0
& E strength and lacking some key personneL
They require assistance; so the
AAA RTC conducts the initial training
of the filler personnel for these battalions.
Concurrently, the 11th and the
226th AAA GROUPS, general reserve
units, carry on specialists' schools for National
Guard cadre and specialists. Upon
completion of five weeks training within
the Replacement Training Center the
fillers and trained cadremen will join the
Aational Guard battalions which will
immediately start unit training.
The unit, rather than the committee'
•or faculty type, method of instruction is
JULY-AUGUST, 1951
pursued within the AAA RTC. It places
responsibility for the superior training
of an individual upon the unit commander
in order to develop a wellrounded
cadreman rather than a specialist.
The need for such a balanced procedure
was demonstrated when directives
were received to ship direct to Korea,
qualified officer and enlisted cadres
for battlefield replacement of combat
soldiers selected for return under the
Army rotation program.
An integral part of the AAA RTC is
a leader's course which implements the
objective stated in ATP 22-1 "to select
potential leaders early in their military
careers, and to develop their capacity for
leadership by example, by instruction,
and by guidance in the actual performance
of duties which involve the leading
of troops."
The Department of the Army establishes
for each continental army quotas
for the leader's course. The course has
graduated 387 potential leaders. A recent
directive to double its capacity will enable
it to produce more individuals capable
of becoming noncommissioned officers.
Through the generosity of the
Citizens Committee for the Army, Navy,
and Air Force, Inc., of New York City,
outstanding graduates have been presented
the American Spirit Honor Medal
and Certificate, at appropriate ceremonies
such as reviews.
Specifically the American Spirit Honor
l\1edal and Certificate is awarded for the
display of outstanding qualities of leadership,
best expressing the American
spirit of honor, initiative, loyalty and
high example to comrades in arms. The
following trainees have received the
medal this year:
Frederick A. Waterous, St. Paul,
Minn.
James B. Blunk, Santa Monica, Calif.
George P. Hambleton, Richmond, Va.
Clayton W. Wood, Phoenix, Ariz.
Granville Tate, Nevada, Miss.
Ira L. Gross, Los Angeles, Calif.
Leadership potentials are de\'eloped
throughout the basic and branch material
programs of the RTC. The student
leader is given actual practice in command
and in leading in all instruction
and training-in artillery firing, in infantry
combat, in athletics, and elsewhere.
Realistic field training and vigorous
physical conditioning are emphasized to
develop soldiers ready for combat. The
trainees spend many days in the field in
bivouac, field problems, and in countering
guerrilla type action. Surprise aggressor
actions are introduced to help
teach security. The trainees also get
sound conditioning in foot marches
under packs. Colonel Heathcote tolerates
no vehicle-bound personnel.
Confidence gained during the basic
training infiltration course is increased
as the men negotiate rocky, desert-like
combat courses. A combat village in the
Franklin Mountains on the outskirts of
El Paso provides realistic training in
village combat.
Antiaircraft artillery trainees receive
training with their weapons. Firing is
conducted against both ground and aerial
targets; the latter including both airplane-towed
and radio-controlled airplane
targets.
The RTC maintains an active athletic
program. Pvt. Samuel Kelly, Btry A 3rd
Battalion won the Fourth Army middleweight
championship at Fort Sill in December.
The RTC won the post basketball
championship in February and still has
two softball teams in the post league:
Btry C, 4th Bn. and Btry A, 6th Bn.
Captain John C. Briggs, the I & E
Officer, supervises a very effective program
in that field, with the emphasis
on the battery programs and on the night
classes at Texas Western College.
Training battalion commanders are:
Major David Cooper, 1st Bn.
Col. Geoffrey W. Sargent, 2nd Bn.
Major Elwood G. Schwartz, 3rd Bn.
Lt. Col. John Martinelli, 4th Bn.
Major John E. Hendry, Jr., 5th Bn.
Major F. R. Whitehead, Sr., 6th Bn.
AAA RTC staff officers include:
Major James D. Benner, Executive
Lt. Col. Richard A. Shagrin, S4
Major Martin O. Hemingway, S3
Capt. F. B. Matthews, Personnel
Capt. Dudley S. Shine, III, S2
Capt. Robert A. LeitzelI, Adjutant
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