2d Missile Battalion (NIKE-AJAX) 106th Arty NYARNG

• Origins and Activation: The 2d Missile Battalion (NIKE-AJAX), 106th Artillery, New York Army National Guard, was activated during the Cold War to provide air defense for the New York metropolitan area against potential Soviet bomber attacks. • NIKE-AJAX Missiles: The unit was equipped with the MIM-3 NIKE-AJAX, the United States' first operational, guided, surface-to-air missile system, capable of speeds up to Mach 2.3 and designed to intercept high-altitude bombers. • Strategic Location: Many of the battalion’s missile sites were strategically placed around New York City, including locations on Long Island and Staten Island, to create a protective "missile ring" for the city. • Cold War Tensions: The unit maintained a high state of readiness throughout the 1950s and 1960s, regularly participating in drills and alert exercises due to the constant threat of nuclear conflict. • Citizen-Soldiers: As a National Guard unit, the personnel were citizen-soldiers—many worked civilian jobs during the week and trained with the battalion on weekends. • Transition to NIKE-HERCULES: In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the battalion began transitioning some sites from the NIKE-AJAX to the more advanced NIKE-HERCULES missiles, which were capable of carrying nuclear warheads. • Community Impact: The presence of NIKE sites within suburban neighborhoods sometimes led to local controversies, but also fostered a sense of pride and security among residents. • Deactivation: The 2d Missile Battalion was inactivated in the late 1960s as part of a nationwide drawdown of the NIKE missile system, reflecting changes in air defense strategy and the rise of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). • Veterans and Reunions: Former members of the battalion have held reunions and maintain online groups to share stories and preserve the history of their unique Cold War service. • Historic Sites Today: Some former NIKE missile sites once operated by the battalion are now parks or historical landmarks, with remnants of radar towers and missile silos still visible to the public.