3:4th ADA 82nd ABN Div.

• Unit Designation: The 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (3-4 ADA) is a key air defense unit assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), North Carolina. • Historical Lineage: The 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment traces its origins to 1821, making its lineage one of the oldest in the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery branch. • World War II Service: The regiment’s predecessor units participated in multiple campaigns during WWII, including Normandy and the Rhineland, providing crucial air defense against Axis aircraft. • Airborne Capability: As part of the 82nd Airborne Division, 3-4 ADA is one of the few air defense units trained and equipped to deploy via parachute, bringing Stinger and Avenger systems into combat by air drop. • Operation Just Cause: Elements of the 3-4 ADA participated in the 1989 Panama invasion, providing air defense cover for the rapid airborne assault. • Desert Storm/Desert Shield: The battalion deployed with the 82nd ABN to Saudi Arabia in 1990, protecting coalition forces from potential air and missile threats during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. • Global War on Terror: 3-4 ADA deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, adapting its air defense and security capabilities to counter rocket, artillery, and mortar threats. • Distinguished Unit Honors: Units in the 4th ADA Regiment have been awarded numerous campaign streamers and unit citations, reflecting their long record of distinguished service. • Avenger and MANPADS: The battalion fields the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air defense system and Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) like the FIM-92 Stinger, providing mobile, agile protection for paratroopers. • “Guardians of the Sky:” The battalion’s motto highlights its mission to protect airborne forces from aerial attack, a responsibility it has carried from WWII glider assaults to modern-day contingency operations.