SILL-WWW.ARMY.MIL
THE OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE OF 31st AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY

COL Janice Chen

Janice Chen was born in Kansas, and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from Cornell University and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Branch through the U.S. Army ROTC program.

She has served in several leadership and staff positions to include: Chief of the Air and Missile Defense Division for the Combined Force Command and the U.S. Forces Korea (2014-2016), Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2011-2013), Missile Defense Policy Chief, Joint Staff J-5 (2010-2011) and Patriot Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion (PATRIOT), 43rd Air Defense Artillery (2008-2010), deployed to Kuwait and Qatar. She served as the Branch Chief of Joint Studies and Analysis at the Joint Staff J8 Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization (2006-2008), Battalion Executive Officer and Operations Officer for 2d Battalion (PATRIOT), 1st Air Defense Artillery, which was initially stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas and later was re-stationed to Gwangju, Korea (2004-2006) and Deputy Chief of Active Defense, 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, TX (2003-2004).

Company grade assignments include PAC-3 Requirements Officer at the Directorate of Combat Developments (Fort Bliss, TX), PATRIOT Battalion Operations Center/ Fire Direct Section OIC / Battery Commander (Germany), and HAWK Platoon Leader (Fort Lewis, WA).

She holds a B.S. degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Masters in Strategic Studies. Her military education includes U.S. Army War College (during which she completed the National Security Policy Program), Joint Forces Staff College, and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Her decorations include the Department of State Superior Honor Award, Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

CSM Jerry E. Jacobitz

Command Sergeant Major Jerry E. Jacobitz was born in South Sioux City, Nebraska. He graduated Henderson Community School and entered the Army in October 28, 1992. He attended OSUT at Fort Benning GA. Upon completion of OSUT he was awarded the Military Occupation Specialty 11B. In June 1997 he reclassified as 14T, Patriot Launcher Advance Operator/Maintainer, at Fort Bliss, TX. His last assignment was the 31st ADA BDE Operations Sergeant Major.

His assignments include HHC Co. 5-87th INF BN (L), Fort Davis, Panama; B Co. 5-87th BN INF (L) Fort Kobee, Panama; B BTRY 3-43rd ADA BN, Fort Bliss, TX; D BTRY 6-52ND ADA BN, Shipton Kaserne, Germany; Non Commissioned Officer Academy, Fort Bliss, TX; E BTRY 2-43rd ADA BN, Fort Bliss, TX; HHB 108th ADA BDE, Fort Bragg, NC; 0631 MiTT, Patrol Base Lions Den, Iraq; A BTRY 3-4th ADAR, Fort Bragg NC; HHB 32d AAMDC, Fort Bliss; A Co USASMA, Fort Bliss; and HHB 31st ADA BDE, Fort Sill. He is currently serving as the Command Sergeant Major of 5-5th ADA BN Fort Lewis. Command Sergeant Major Jacobitz has held every leadership position from Team Leader to First Sergeant, as well as NCO Academy Small Group Leader (PLDC) and Intelligence and Team NCOIC on an external MiTT in Iraq.

His awards include Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (5), Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal (4), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (5), Nation Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Air Assault Badge. His military schools include Infantryman OSUT, Patriot Launcher Advanced Operator/Maintainer AIT, Basic Instructor Course, NBC Officer Course, Air Assault Course, NCO Battle Staff course, PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, and USASMA. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and is working on his MBA.

CSM Jacobitz is married to the former Jannett Reyes Lee, and has three children Jennifer, Jodie, and Jordan.

The 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade was constituted on January 1, 1918, in the National Army as Headquarters, 31st Heavy Artillery Brigade, Coast Artillery Corps at Key West, Fla. but would see numerous name changes over the lifetime of the unit. The unit rapidly transitioned into World War I where the brigade earned four battle streamers for participation in the campaigns Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, and Champagne 1918.

The unit was demobilized at Fort Lewis, Wash. June 30, 1921. The brigade was reconstituted October 14, 1936 in the regular Army as Headquarters, 31st Coast Artillery Brigade and was later designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st Coast Artillery Brigade. In November 1942 the brigade was activated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade as part of the coastal air defense stationed at Camp Haan, Cali. and was later deployed to the European Theater where it participated in and earned three more battle streamers for campaigns in Rome-Arno, Southern France, and the Rhineland. On June 30, 1946, the brigade was deactivated at Laned-Sebold, Germany. This unit would encounter numerous activations and inactivations over the years to come to include a 1946 inactivation in Germany, reactivation in 1948 at Fort Bliss, Tex. and in 1958 was reorganized as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st Artillery Brigade.

The unit would be inactivated in 1960 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. and then reactivated in 1961 at Lockport Air Force Station, N.Y. In response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the brigade formed with nine Hercules and Hawk battalions defending southern Florida from attack by Cuba and the Soviet Union. The brigade was designated under its present name on March 15, 1972, and after one final inactivation in 1979 at Homestead Air Force Base in Fla., the brigade would be reactivated again on April 1, 1988, at Fort Hood, Tex. to support III Corps. In February, 1996, the brigade once again received movement orders, this time to Fort Bliss, Tex. 31st ADA underwent a BRAC-directed move from Fort Bliss, Tex. to Fort Sill, Okla. in July of 2008.

In August of 2009, the brigade deployed approximately 50 Soldiers from the Headquarters Battery to Qatar for one year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and returned its Soldiers home safely in July of 2010. The brigade also deployed a battalion, 3rd Battalion 2nd Air Defense Artillery, to Southwest Asia in March 2010, returning them home safely in 2011. Currently, 31st has two units deployed worldwide in defense of our nation. 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment is deployed to Kuwait for a year to support our allies abroad, while 3-2 ADA has rewritten ADA history by deploying to Turkey, establishing two Patriot missile batteries to help defend the region from possible air and missile threats that may occur as a result of the ongoing civil war in Syria. The brigade consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Battery; 3-2 ADA Battalion (Patriot), 4-3 ADA Battalion (Patriot), Fort Sill, Okla. and 5-5 ADA Battalion (AMD), Fort Lewis, Washington. On order, the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade deploys to a Theater of Operations in support of the 32nd AAMDC, conducts decisive air and missile defense operations, and redeploys.

Unit Citations Include:
Meritorious Unit Citation Award

5-5 ADA Assumes New Mission

4-3 ADA Holds Town Hall to Educate and Inform

Soldiers Learn Importance of Value Added

Training the tip of the SPEAR

Giving Back

Mission Readiness

Soldier and Family Readiness

5-5 Air Defense Artillery Battalion conducts Mission Readiness Exercise

FCoE Tenant Career Counselor of the Year

Spouses Tour

Move, Shoot and Communicate – Patriot Style

4-3rd ADA Air Load Training

Battalion conducts SHARP stand-up

5-5 ADA Color Casing