Team Osan Spotlight: Spc. Alexander L. Knoll

Published April 22, 2015
By Staff Reports
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --

Name: Spc. Alexander L. Knoll

Unit: Charlie Battery 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

Job title: Tactical Control Assistant for the Patriot Missile System

Job description and its impact on the overall mission: As a Tactical Control Assistant or TCA, I am responsible for both maintaining the system as well as operating the Engagement Control Station.

A Patriot Battery is like a body with many components required for it to operate properly; the Radar is our eyes, the Antenna Mast Group is our ears, the Electric Power Plant is our heart, the Launching Stations are our arms and legs, and the Engagement Control Station is the brain.

The Engagement Control Station controls everything a Patriot Battery does and it is operated by the Tactical Control Officer, and two enlisted Soldiers, one as Tactical Control Assistant and the other as a Communications Operator.

The Tactical Control Officer and Tactical Control Assistant monitor the air picture received by the Radar, monitor the system itself for any faults, control all engagements when the system needs to be fired, and maintains communications with higher ups to Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer and the Area Air Defense Commander.

The Patriot System is the primary defense against all Tactical Ballistic Missile threats to the ROK, and is essential to it's all around defense. This means that the Tactical Control Assistant and Tactical Control Officer must be highly trained in order to deal with any situation. I am a highly trained Tactical Control Assistant in Charlie Battery, and Charlie Battery is the best Patriot Battery on this Peninsula.

Maintaining readiness and being skilled in my position has a large impact on the defense of this country. Although my work is important it always takes many soldiers to keep the system operational and you can not make it work without an excellent team.

Time in the military: 27 months

Time at Osan: 19 months

DEROS: 17SEP2015

Family: Single with no children

Hometown: Fresno, CA

Hobbies: Fishing, Golfing

Why did you join the military? I made foolish decisions most of the time when I was younger, like most of us did, and I wanted to set myself on a better path. I also really enjoy serving in the United States Army and serving my country. So far it has worked out exactly as planned.

Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years? I see myself retiring from the military as an E-8 or higher, married with a couple kids, and moving to a nice quiet town somewhere I can just relax and enjoy the slow onset of old age.

What do you do for fun here? I enjoy golfing with friends on the weekend, taking in the historic sites around Korea, and the nightlife in this country is excellent.

What's your favorite Army memory or story? The simple experience of flying into Korea and seeing how widespread our military is. It was my first time leaving the country and it was very eye opening to get a sense of how big the world is. As well as how many countries share the space.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? When I first arrived at Charlie Battery as a fresh new Private right out of AIT we were preparing to go to the field for our bi-annual Table VIII certification. About two days before we leave I was told that I had been placed on the primary mobility crew for the Antenna Mast Group, an essential component of the system. I trained rigorously in the field and passed my Table IV written test 1st time go. Two days after that I went on to get a 1st time go, or Q1, on the actual Table VIII March Order and Emplacement drill. As a brand new soldier just getting to a real unit, out of TRADOC, I was ecstatic to have done so well with very little training time.

Who are your role models? My father, first and foremost, has had the greatest influence on myself and the way I want to live my life. I aspire to be as level-headed and as knowledgeable as he is. Secondly, my grandfather who was a Sergeant in WWII and fought all throughout Germany, most notably in the Battle of the Bulge. I hope to live up to the legacy he left behind.