Arrivals

JOINT BASE GARRISON
The Joint Base Garrison operates the installation on behalf of the warfighting units, families and extended military community who depend on JBLM for support. With an Army joint base commander and an Air Force deputy joint base commander, the garrison supports the installation through directorates and agencies that provide a full range of city services and quality-of-life functions - everything from facilities maintenance, recreation and family programs to training support and emergency services.

The major organizations that make up the bulk of the Joint Base Garrison include the Directorates of Public Works; Logistics; Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Human Resources; Emergency Services; and Plans and Training Security and Plans. Additional staff offices that support the installation mission include the Joint Base Public Affairs Office, the Religious Support Office, the Resource Management Office, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, the Installation Safety Office and the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office. Other partners who work closely with the Joint Base Garrison include the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command and Joint Personal Property Shipping Office.

The Yakima Training Center is a major sub-installation of JBLM, and provides a full range of training lands and ranges to active and reserve component units. Encompassing more than 320,000 acres, YTC is a world-class facility where units can prepare for any mission they may be called upon to perform.

Three military units support the Joint Base Garrison: the 1st Joint Mobilization Brigade, which provides command and control and host unit support to mobilizing, deploying and demobilizing reserve component units from all military services; the 627th Air Base Group, which provides command and control and administrative oversight to the Airmen who perform installation support duties on behalf of the garrison; and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Joint Base Garrison, which provides administrative oversight to the Army personnel in the garrison and supports newly arrived Soldiers during their in-processing period. The joint base commander's vision for the garrison is to provide world-class support to mission commanders and the joint base community, to serve as an enabler to our warfighters as they train and project America's combat power, and to make JBLM the station of choice for our nation's warfighters and their families.

I CORPS
I Corps commands most Army units at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and conducts planning and liaison with other assigned active and Reserve component units located in the continental United States. It is one of four corps headquarters in the active Army, and one of three based in the continental United States.

Today, I Corps has been designated as one of the active Army's contingency corps. I Corps stays prepared to deploy on short notice worldwide to command up to five divisions or a joint task force.

Since I Corps was assigned to Fort Lewis in 1981, Soldiers from its units have participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War, Operation Provide Comfort for Kurdish Refugees, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. They helped with the restoration of order following the riots in Los Angeles, participated in Operation Safe Harbor in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for Haitian migrants, supported relief efforts following Hurricane Andrew in Florida and Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii, and played a significant role in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and in restoring peace in Kosovo.

I Corps also contributed to the command structure of Operation Desert Storm with the I Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Calvin A.H. Waller, and the Deputy I Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Paul Schwartz, assisting General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the commander of American forces.

January 15, 2003, marked the 85th anniversary of the activation of the I American Army Corps in Neufchateau, France. The corps assumed tactical responsibility for troops fighting on the western front July 4, 1918. Corps Soldiers participated in battles during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, the St. Mihiel Offensive and the Battle of Meuse-Argonne. After World War I, I Corps was disbanded at Tonnerre, France, in 1919.

I Corps was reactivated at Fort Jackson, S.C., in 1940. In 1942, the corps was assigned to U.S. Army Forces, Southwest Pacific Area under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. I Corps' first major World War II combat assignment was the taking of Buna, New Guinea, the first allied victory over the Japanese. Corps Soldiers then won battles at Hollandia and Biak, New Guinea. Later, I Corps took part in the invasion of the Philippines. Following the war, I Corps was assigned to occupation duty in Japan until 1950. It was briefly inactivated, then reactivated at Fort Bragg, N.C., and sent to Korea, fighting on the Pusan Perimeter, near Seoul and elsewhere on the peninsula for two years. When the fighting ended, I Corps was given tactical control of U.S., United Nations and Republic of Korea forces along the western third of the Eighth Army area. The corps continued to play an active role in Korea along the DMZ until 1971, when it was reduced to zero strength. In 1981, I Corps was reactivated at Fort Lewis.

On Oct. 12, 1999, General Eric K. Shinseki, Chief of Staff of the Army, announced I Corps would lead the acceleration of Army transformation, training and the initial creation of the first two Stryker Brigade Combat Teams at Fort Lewis.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, I Corps and Fort Lewis assets have been active in providing support for Global War on Terrorism operations. GWOT operations include Operations Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On Feb. 5, 2004, Task Force Olympia was activated, a sub-element of I Corps headquarters with the mission to command forward-deployed units in Iraq. This marked the first time that I Corps had forward Soldiers in combat since the end of the Korean War. Task Force Olympia included units from all three components of the Army (active, Reserve and National Guard) as well as Marine and Australian officers. Task Force Olympia's subordinate units included the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, which deployed for Iraq on Nov. 8, 2003, and returned to Fort Lewis after one year of combat duty; and the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, which departed Fort Lewis on Sept. 15, 2004, for one year and returned September 2005. On June 1, 2006, the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division cased its colors and became the 2nd Cavalry Regiment - Stryker Brigade Combat Team with its home station in Germany. A brandnew unit ready to make history then uncased the colors of its new designation on June 1, 2006 - the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

The 4th Brigade deployed to Iraq March 12, 2007, and returned in May 2008 after more than 14 months in theater. It cased its colors for its second deployment August 25, 2009, to Iraq for one year and was the last combat brigade to leave Operation Iraqi Freedom. Another new unit, the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, uncased its colors May 4, 2007. The brigade deployed to Afghanistan June 2009.

The Army's sixth modular brigade, the 17th Fires Brigade, arrived and uncased its colors Aug. 10, 2007. The Thunderbolt Brigade is a U.S. Army Forces Command organization now attached to I Corps. The fires brigade can deploy as a self-contained combat unit or provide battalions and batteries to other maneuver organizations at the corps commander's discretion. On June 2, 2006, 3rd Brigade departed for Iraq for its second tour and returned October 2007. The Soldiers of the Arrowhead Brigade fought in some of the most difficult parts of the war zone in Iraq. On July 24, 2009, the brigade cased its colors for its third tour in Iraq.

America's Corps made history in February 2009, when it deployed to Iraq for its first combat deployment in more than a half-century. I Corps replaced XVIII Airborne Corps and assumed duties as the Multi- National Corps-Iraq. On New Year's Day 2010, MNC-I, cased its colors as part of activation of U.S. Forces-Iraq at Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Iraq. This deployment marked the first time since the Korean War the I Corps Headquarters has deployed in direct support of combat operations. I Corps returned to JBLM on March 2010. Since 1918, the Soldiers of I Corps have served with distinction and made I Corps America's most decorated corps in the active Army. The success of I Corps is a direct result of professionalism, dedication and motivation of its Soldiers. Soldiers make America's Corps what it is today, the corps of the future.

42nd Military Police Brigade and Directorate of Emergency Services Task Force Protector represents the combined forces of the 42nd Military Police Brigade and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Directorate of Emergency Services (DES). This team is dedicated to the Army mission and the safety and security of the JBLM community. As the leader of TF Protector, the 42nd Military Police Brigade commander holds three important positions: brigade commander, Director of DES, and the Regional Director for Army Corrections Command. The 42nd MP Brigade is responsible for conducting law enforcement support for I Corps and other contingency forces. The DES provides law enforcement mission support for I Corps and JBLM with additional force protection and law and order at Yakima Training Center.

The precursor organization to the 42nd MP Brigade was the 7751st MP Detachment (Customs), activated on March 21, 1949, in Germany. The unit's mission was to control widespread and organized black marketeering and smuggling activities that posed a serious threat to the German economy, and to foster an environment in which economic recovery could take root in Europe. In 1955, the customs unit was reorganized into a non-numerical designation until August 1964, when the unit was deactivated, renamed and reactivated as the 42nd MP Detachment (Customs).

On January 25, 1968, the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, the 42nd MP Group was constituted in the regular Army and activated in Germany. On October 21, 1977, the HHD, 42nd MP Group was reorganized and redesignated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd MP Group. With the end of the Cold War and the subsequent draw-down of troop strength, the customs mission no longer required the services of the entire group, and in August 1994, the 42nd MP Group (Customs) was deactivated.

The inactive unit was redesignated as the 1st MP Brigade (Provisional) at Fort Lewis in May 2004. On October 15, 2004, the 1st MP Brigade (Provisional) was deactivated and the 42nd MP Brigade was activated as the Military Police Brigade supporting I Corps. The 42nd MP Brigade consists of two battalions located at JBLM: 504th MP Battalion and the 508th MP (Internment/Resettlement) Battalion, and one battalion, the 759th MP Battalion, located at Fort Carson, Colo. The brigade has successfully maintained the balance between providing garrison force protection, wartime combat-support functions, area security, corrections, law and order, and augmentation from Department of Army police, guards, and civilians assigned to the DES.

The 504th MP Battalion was activated in the regular Army on June 1, 1940, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In 1943, the battalion landed on the beaches of North Africa as one of the first Allied units of World War II to fight against Rommel's Afrika Korps. The battalion consists of a Headquarters Detachment, the 51st (L&O) Detachment, and four combat-support companies: the 54th MP Company, the 66th MP Company, the 170th MP Company, and the 571st MP Company. All elements of the battalion recently redeployed or currently deployed from Iraq and/or Afghanistan, where they conducted combatsupport, humanitarian aid, stability operations, or training local national police.

The 508th MP (I/R) Battalion was activated on October 14, 2005, at Fort Lewis. The battalion consists of a Headquarters Company and UNITS Photo: JBLM Visual Information Services Soldiers & Airmen Defending America Joint Base Lewis-McChord 9 two MP Companies: 67th MP (I/R) Company and the 595th MP (I/R) Company. The battalion headquarters company and the 67th (I/R) MP Company deployed to Iraq in early fall 2008 to conduct detainee operations. The 508th MP (I/R) Battalion is responsible for command- and-control and daily operations of the Northwest Joint Regional Correction Facility (NWJRCF) at JBLM.

The DES was established at Fort Lewis on January 11, 2006. The DES mission is to plan, direct, and provide law and order; fire and emergency services; and force protection operations in support of I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and YTC to provide a safe and secure environment for the Soldiers, civilians, and families who live and work on the installation. The DES performs these important missions through the combined efforts of more than 400 Soldiers, DA civilians and contractors serving in various divisions within DES: Law Enforcement Division, which includes a Training Branch, Police Administration Branch, Patrol Operations Branch, Investigations Branch, Traffic Branch, and Security and Access Control Branch; Fire and Emergency Services Division, which includes the Office of Emergency Management and the Emergency Communications Center/911 Center; Support Services Division; and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Division which supports the access of each gate onto JBLM.

2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division was first organized in October 1920 in the Regular Army at Camp Travis, Texas, as the 4th Infantry Brigade, and assigned to the 2nd Division.

The brigade was reconstituted on January 25, 1963, in the Regular Army as the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and activated on February 15, 1963 at Fort Benning, Ga. From there it followed the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division to the Republic of Korea in 1965, where it was stationed until 2005. The brigade held the distinction of being the Army's only brigade with organic light and heavy formations.

On May 17, 2004, the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division received the order to Iraq with less than three months notice. From August 2004 to August 2005, 2nd Brigade Soldiers fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the first combat deployment for the brigade's battalions since the Korean War. The brigade saw active combat from Ramadi to Fallujah to Baghdad before redeploying to Fort Carson. In October 2006, the newly modular 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, return to Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On its return, the brigade destroyed the insurgency in Ramadi, as well as serving in other areas such as West Baghdad and Sadr City. Two Soldiers in the brigade earned the Distinguished Service C

ross for actions during this tour. The 2nd Brigade is currently a Stryker Brigade Combat Team composed of seven battalions: 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion 17th Infantry Regiment; 4th Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment; 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment; 2nd Battalion 17th Field Artillery; the 2nd Brigade Support Battalion; and the 2-2 Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Provisional).

"Seize the High Ground!"
3rd Brigade,
2nd Infantry Division
The 3rd Brigade was established as the 1st Provisional Brigade on August 11, 1917, in Syracuse, N.Y. Shortly after, it was re-designated on September 22, 1917, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Infantry Brigade and was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. A month later the brigade was sent to France where it saw heavy fighting as part of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force). The brigade contained the 9th Infantry Regiment, 23 Infantry Regiment, and the 5th Machinegun Battalion.

While in France, the 3rd Brigade participated in a period of harsh training in the Bourmont area. The main reason for this was to ready themselves for the German enemies. The 3rd Brigade fought in many battles in France, including the battles of Chateau Thierry, the St. Michial Salient, and Meuse-Argonne. Throughout these battles the Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade were the highest decorated in the AEF.

During World War I, the 3rd Brigade earned six battle streamers for their participation in the major campaigns of Aisne, Aisne-Marne, Lorraine 1918, le de France 1918, St Michiel, and Meuse-Argonne. The French awarded the brigade four French Croix de Guerre. Three streamers, Chateau-Thierry, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne and the French Fourragere. The green and red Fourragere is still worn on the left shoulder of every Soldier assigned to the brigade.

After the war, the 3rd Brigade remained in Germany for one year as the U.S. Army of occupation. In late 1919, the brigade returned to its home of Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The brigade was then deactivated on October 9, 1939.

On February 1, 1963, the 3rd Brigade was reactivated and reassigned to the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga. Two years later, on July 1, 1965, the 3rd Brigade moved to Korea to join the rest of the 2nd Infantry Division, where its mission was to guard the western corridor.

In April 1967, five North Korean infiltrators were killed at guard post Lucy. Twenty-four days later, two more agents were captured and one was killed. From May to September 1967, 264 engagements with infiltrators occurred. During the Pueblo Crisis in 1968, increased enemy activity and propaganda resulted in 74 intrusion attempts and firefights. It was at this time that the Army authorized all personnel north of the Imjin River to draw hostile fire pay. From July to October 1968, 56 incidents involving the brigade occurred. From 1969 until its deactivation in 1992 the infiltrations slowed and eventually came to a stop. On April 11,1995, the 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Lewis Wash. as part of I Corps.

After May 18, 2000, the 3rd Brigade began it's transformation by fielding new digital equipment and the U.S. Army's first Stryker Combat vehicles. This transformation culminated on September 23, 2003, with the brigade's certification.

On November 2, 2003, the 3rd Brigade deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, relieving 101st Airborne. For the next year the U.S. Army's first Stryker Brigade proved its worth in combat and logistics operations. In October 2004, the 3rd Brigade handed the reins to 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and began the redeployment home to Fort Lewis.

The Arrowhead Brigade returned to Iraq in June 2006, for what was originally a yearlong deployment to Mosul. They were later sent to Baghdad, saw their tour extended to 15 months and used as a strike force to attack in some of the country's toughest areas. The entire brigade served in Baqouba in Diyala province, where they forced al-Qaeda in Iraq(AQI) from what the group called the capital of its new Islamic republic.

On Friday, July 24, 2009, the Arrowhead Soldiers cased their colors during a deployment ceremony to mark their third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Third Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, accepted responsibility of Diyala province, Iraq, in a transfer of authority ceremony on September 12, 2009, on Forward Operating Base Warhorse, from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. The Arrowhead Brigade served a year in Diyala province partnering with the Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi political leaders and the Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team to train and mentor Iraqi soldiers and policemen, and to enhance infrastructure and economic development within the region. The Arrowhead Brigade's Golden Egg Project renewed the poultry industry in Diyala province, allowing farmers in the province to receive start-up materials including feed and chicks. Once the initial stock is sold, the proceeds are reinvested to continue to cycle, thus allowing them to compete in a competitive market. Two of Infantry Battalions (1-23 INF and 2-3 INF) returned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., during May and June 2010, as part of the reduction of U.S. Forces. On July 27, 2010, the Arrowhead Brigade transferred responsibility of Diyala province to 2-25 SBCT(AAB).

4th Brigade,
2nd Infantry Division
The 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division - Raiders - activated at Fort Lewis, Wash. on June 1, 2006, after forming as the Army's fourth Stryker Brigade sixteen months earlier. In April 2007, the brigade deployed to Iraq as part of President George Bush's "surge" strategy and became the first Stryker brigade to deploy with all 10 variants of the Stryker combat vehicle. During more than 13 months of continuous, full-spectrum operations, the Raider Brigade successfully conducted nine brigade-level operations and more than 550 battalion and company sized operations throughout Baghdad's Northern Belt and in the Diyala Province. These efforts provided space and time for the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny and begin the process of reconciliation, rebuilding, and self government.

On June 1, 2008, the Raider Brigade completed its mission in Iraq and transferred authority of Diyala Province. During more than 13 months of continuous combat operations in Baghdad's Northern Belt and then in Diyala Province, the brigade's operations resulted in 1,700 personnel detained and more than 600 insurgents killed or wounded. The brigade's intelligence-driven raids devastated insurgent networks by removing more than 200 high-value individuals from the battlefield. Brigade route clearance operations resulted in more than 11,250 kilometers of routes being cleared and the discovery and reduction of 1,295 IEDs. Brigade Soldiers found and reduced more than 550 enemy weapons caches, including the largest explosively formed projectile cache ever discovered in Iraq.

UNITS Soldiers & Airmen Defending America Joint Base Lewis-McChord 11 Upon return from Iraq in June 2008, the Raider Brigade began an intense six month RESET period repairing, replacing and fielding new equipment in preparation for their next deployment. In March 2009, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, received word that due to the diversion of a Stryker brigade to Afghanistan, its deployment date would be accelerated by nine months. General Raymond Odierno and his staff had identified the need for a Stryker brigade to facilitate the responsible drawdown of American combat forces from Iraq and to leave Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) trained, equipped and capable to protect their people.

On Sept. 28, 2009, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, transferred authority of western Baghdad to 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Raider Soldiers, conducting operations since mid-September, completed familiarization of their new Operational Environment and Iraqi partners. The brigade partnered with the 6th and 9th Iraqi Army Divisions, 6th Brigade, 2nd Federal Police Division, and with local Iraqi Police and Sons of Iraq in an area often considered Iraq's "Center of Gravity." The March 7th national elections demonstrated that ISF could create and execute a comprehensive security plan. With 4th Bde. 2nd Inf. Div. merely helping to facilitate ISF security operations, more than 60 percent of Iraqis turned-out to vote despite early morning violence, a testament to the determined will of the Iraqi people.

As part of the Responsible Drawdown of Forces, the brigade transferred five Joint Security Stations to the Iraqi government and downsized two others, moving concrete barriers, dismantling motor pools and cooking areas, removing gravel and hazardous materials and packing equipment. Local governments, Iraqi ministries and tribal leaders identified numerous reconstruction projects and, working closely with other organizations, the brigade prioritized projects based on the needs of the people. These included repairs of medical clinics and schools, solar lights for neighborhood streets, drinking water pumps and filtration systems, electrical projects, sewage treatment plants, agribusiness and local business grants.

Money dedicated to this "Brown to Green" initiative helped train farmers on new agricultural technologies like greenhouse farming and irrigation techniques that help conserve water and to decrease Iraq's dependence on foreign produce by helping Iraqis provide for Iraq. Nearly 300 farmers received greenhouses with drip irrigation systems, seed and fertilizers, providing them with the tools they needed to be successful.

In order to meet the President's Obama's September 1 deadline of 50,000 troops in Iraq, preparation for the brigade's redeployment began shortly after the elections. The brigade executed its redeployment in a way that ensured senior US commanders on the ground had additional combat flexibility for as long as possible.

While roughly half of the brigade flew home from Iraq, approximately 2,000 Raiders departed via a Tactical Road March (TRM) from Victory Base Complex and Camp Taji in mid-August. Dubbed "The Last Patrol," the Soldiers drove a total of 360 vehicles, including 320 Strykers, 360 miles from Baghdad to Kuwait, similar to how units first entered Iraq more than seven years prior. The TRM from Baghdad began early on the morning of August 15 with the final element crossing the Kuwaiti border August 19. Several major media outlets covered the movement extensively, and rode with the brigade's Soldiers as they moved south. The brigade designated the operational name of the Iraq-Kuwait border to be "PL Lakewood", symbolic of the brigade's return home and the many contributions of the community partners. The Raider Brigade's departure from Iraq reduced the total number of U.S. forces to 52,000, representing the symbolic end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the beginning of Operation New Dawn on September 1, 2010.

On August 21, the brigade cased its colors in Kuwait for movement back to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, officially uncasing them on October 7, 2010.

17th Fires Brigade
The 17th Field Artillery Brigade was initially constituted on July 31, 1918, as an element of the 17th Thunderbolt Division at Camp Bowie, Texas. The unit was demobilized after World War I, in February 1919, at Fort Sill, Okla.

In October 1936, Headquarters, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, was reconstituted and consolidated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade. In January 1943, the brigade was again activated at Fort Sill. In March 1944, the unit was reorganized and redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, VII Corps Artillery. During World War II, the unit earned five battle streamers for its valorous participation in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. Following World War II, the unit was deactivated.

The unit was activated in January 1951, and served with distinction in the Federal Republic of Germany until its inactivation in June 1975. In March 1978, the unit was again activated and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade. On January 15, 1992, the Thunderbolt Brigade colors were transferred from Augsburg, Germany, to Fort Sill, Okla. as an enhanced CONUS Contingency Capability Unit, and it was assigned to III Armored Corps Artillery.

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a part of V Corps Artillery. During summer 2003, the brigade was involved in the construction and repair of Iraqi schools and other facilities, the movement of various types of ammunition throughout the Sunni Triangle and Relay Point Missions. Upon return from Iraq, the brigade inactivated 3-18 FA in support of Army modularity. On Sept. 5, 2005, the 17th FA Brigade deployed Task Force Thunderbolt to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2007. While deployed, Task Force Thunderbolt conducted Garrison Command Operations and Base Defense for the Victory Base Complex. Simultaneously, 1-12 FA and 5-3 FA deployed three truck companies with their base of operations in Kuwait. In this remarkable accomplishment, 17th FA Brigade elements collectively covered the entire Iraqi footprint.

From Aug. 23 until Nov. 18, every member of the 17th FA Brigade redeployed to Fort Sill, Okla., and reintegrated on March 15, 2007, the 17th FA Brigade inactivated 1-12 FA and prepared to restation to Fort Lewis. In support of the Army Campaign Plan, the brigade continued its transformation from a field artillery brigade to a fires brigade with the movement of its subordinate units from Forts Sill, Bragg and Campbell to Fort Lewis. Subsequently, 17th Fires Brigade activated on July 16, 2007. The 17th Fires Brigade consists of HHB, the 17th Brigade, 5-3 FA (HIMARS), 1-377 FA Air Assault (155 TOWED), 308th Brigade Support Battalion, 606th and 657th Forward Support Companies, F-26 FA (Target Acquisition Battery) and 256th Signal Company. 1-94 FA (HIMARS) along with 125th FSC joined the brigade in 2008.

In July 2009, the brigade headquarters, the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, the 308th Brigade Support Battalion, the 256th Signal Company and a fires-and-effects cell departed to Iraq. The brigade will set up in the Multi-National Division-South area of operations to work with the 34th Infantry Division, an Army National Guard division from Rosemount, Minn. Two smaller elements of the Thunderbolt Brigade, a target-acquisition battery and another fires-and-effects cell, have already deployed, and its remaining field artillery battalions conducted training missions elsewhere.

One of six highly mobile and versatile fires brigades in the Army, the 17th Fires Brigade will perform six separate missions, all but one requiring deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Changes in the brigade's multiple missions led to the absence of two of its three artillery battalions. The 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, learned in May 2009 its original mission to operate a detainment facility in Iraq had changed to a security mission in Afghanistan. The battalion returned October 20, marking the last unit of the brigade to return from operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, will stay behind to continue its mission to support ROTC training during Warrior Forge, the annual ROTC camp.

62nd Medical Brigade
Proud and steadfast, the 62nd Medical Brigade has been a part of the JBLM community since 1968. The brigade's mission is to organize, train, deploy, and command and control a multifunctional medical task force consisting of 11 distinct mission areas. These areas include command and control, ground evacuation, forward resuscitative surgery, hospitalization, area medical support, combat stress control, preventive medicine, veterinary services, blood support, medical logistics and dental. The brigade provides trained and ready corps and echelon above corps medical capabilities qualified to provide full-spectrum forcehealth- protection operations in any theater of operations. In addition, the brigade conducts stability operations, support operations and consequence management. When deployed, the 62nd Medical Brigade will include professional fillers (PROFIS) from the Army Medical Command and Army Dental Command to accomplish any given mission.

The 62nd Medical Brigade ensures its Combat Health Support readiness through a UNITS Soldiers & Airmen Defending America Joint Base Lewis-McChord 13 robust operational training and support program executed at the Joint Readiness Training Center, National Training Center, Yakima Training Center and at CONUS and OCONUS exercises in Japan and Thailand. While on JBLM, subordinate units honed critical clinical skills and assisted in maintaining a healthy deployable force through cooperative programs with Madigan Army Medical Center and the I Corps Joint Medical Training Center. The 62nd Medical Brigade annually sponsors the Expert Field Medical Badge Training and Testing for I Corps and JBLM, and supports the Reserve Officers Training Corps Warrior Forge by providing medical coverage. The 62nd Medical Brigade and subordinate units have recently deployed numerous times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In just the past year, the Soldiers of the brigade have provided combat health support coverage in the countries of Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Djibouti and the Horn of Africa.

The 62nd Medical Brigade is trained and ready to put combat health support on the ground when and where needed to support the fighting men and women of our Armed Services.

201st Battlefield
Surveillance Brigade
The 201st BfSB transformed from the 201st Military Intelligence Brigade on July 3, 2008, and is the Army's third active-duty BfSB. The 201st BfSB conducts multidisciplined reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence collection operations in support of full spectrum operations as part of an Army Corps or designated Joint Task Force. The unit departed for Iraq in September 2009 and returned September 2010.

555th Engineer Brigade
The Triple Nickel Engineer Brigade reactivated on Fort Lewis Jan. 16, 1992, and was designated the 555th Combat Engineer Group. In January 2003, the 555th Combat Engineer Group received orders to deploy with the 4th Infantry Division as a member of Task Force Ironhorse in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After its return from Operation Iraqi Freedom, the group was designated as the first Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Provisional) in the Army on Oct. 4, 2004. On Oct. 6, 2005, the brigade headquarters deployed back to North Central Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). On June 13, 2007, the brigade became the Army's first modular engineer brigade, reflagging as the 555th Engineer Brigade. The brigade deployed to Iraq in September 2008 for its third tour in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The brigade's mission is to deploy worldwide to conduct assured mobility, survivability and general engineer support to sustain lines of communication, provide force protection, life support and facilitate restoration of infrastructure for Army, Joint and Combined Forces.

Subordinate units include the 864th Engineer Battalion and 14th Engineer Battalion on JBLM, the 1st Engineer Battalion at Fort Riley, Kan. and the 4th Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, Colo. The brigade maintains administrative control of four additional JBLM battalions: 23rd Chemical Battalion, 110th Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), 5-5 Air Defense Artillery Battalion and 3rd Explosive Ordnance Battalion.

The 864th Engineer Battalion constructs roads, airfields, life support facilities, combat outposts and various infrastructures to support the commander across the battle space. The battalion conducted two tours in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2007 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and was one of the first units into Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 864th Pacemakers have fought in Desert Storm, Vietnam and World War II.

The 14th Engineer Battalion transformed to a modular, "combat-effects" battalion Feb. 20, 2007. The battalion deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, 2005 and 2007 executing route- and area-clearance operations to maintain freedom of action for coalition forces. The 864th Engineer Battalion is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar Province. They are scheduled to redeploy in April 2011.

593rd Sustainment Brigade
The 593rd Sustainment Brigade was originally the 1350th Engineer Base Depot Brigade, activated Aug. 1, 1944, for service in World War II and constituted Aug. 7, 1944. The brigade was inactivated on the islands of Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines on May 20, 1946.

It was reactivated as the 593rd Engineer Base Depot in Guam on Dec. 16, 1948. Following a series of reactivations and redefinitions, it participated in 14 campaigns in Vietnam from 1966 to 1972 as the 593rd General Supply Brigade, earning its second Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Inactivated in April 1972, it was again activated on March 21, 1973, as the 593rd Area Support Brigade at Fort Lewis. The brigade was immediately responsible for many post-support missions critical to the day-to-day operations of Fort Lewis, while simultaneously being prepared to deploy worldwide in support of I Corps, PACOM, Homeland Defense and War on Terrorism requirements across the full spectrum of Army, Joint and Interagency operations. Brigade personnel and units have supported a variety of missions ranging from SBCT National Training Center rotations, conducting the command, control and onward movement of all equipment during 4-2 SBCT's redeployment to the Japanese CALFEX while annually hosting the Washington Special Olympics.

On Aug. 31, 1990, the 593rd Area Support Brigade deployed to Saudi Arabia for participation in operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Farewell. In addition, the 593rd Area Support Brigade deployed on Dec. 24, 1992, to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope.

On Nov. 16, 1993, the 593rd Area Support Brigade was redesignated as the 593rd Corps Support Brigade. Following its redesignation, it was deployed to El Salvador for a Joint Humanitarian Mission. Between November 1998 and February 1999, the 593rd Corps Support Brigade successfully joined with other military personnel to restore hope in that part of Central America. On Jan. 16, 2004, the 593rd Corps Support Brigade deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From the moment the 593rd took over the logistical mission in Iraq, it set the standard for logistical excellence for the 13th COSCOM. The 593rd Corps Support Brigade also has supported Operation Enduring Freedom by sending units to Afghanistan.

On June 28, 2006, the 593rd Corps Support Brigade deployed again to Iraq and exercised command and control over all Army logistics in western Iraq. On May 1, 2007, the 593rd Corps Support Brigade transformed into the 593rd Sustainment Brigade in Al Asad, Iraq. The 593rd Sustainment Brigade again deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May 2010, executing one of the largest retrograde operations in history when they joined supported 1st Theater Sustainment Command moving equipment and supplies both out of Iraq and into Afghanistan. The 593rd Sustainment Brigade continues its legacy of providing the finest logistical support available I Corps, JBLM, and the Army, and expects to again deploy in the near future in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Henry H. Lind
Noncommissioned Officer
Academy
The Henry H. Lind Noncommissioned Officer Academy is a JBLM-based Training and Doctrine Command NCO Academy that teaches the Warrior Leader Course to qualified active, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers. WLC is a basic, branch immaterial course that provides basic leadership training for Soldiers selected for promotion to sergeant. WLC provides Soldiers an opportunity to acquire the leader skills, knowledge, and experience needed to lead team sized units. It is the foundation for further NCO training and development. The JBLM NCO Academy is named after the late Command Sgt. Maj. Henry H. Lind. CSM Lind led his Soldiers through countless enemy incursions, and several major battles to include Operations "Overlord" and "Market Garden" during WWII, and the Battle of "Chip Yong Ni" during the Korean War. CSM Lind was a well disciplined Soldier and a cunning warrior: his life embodied the motto of his beloved regiment "We Serve."

1st Special Forces Group
(Airborne)
The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) is one of five active-duty Special Forces Groups assigned to the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. The 1st SFG (A) is tasked to support the U.S. Pacific Command by conducting special operations, in peace and war, in the Asia/Pacific Theater. These Green Berets are carefully selected, specially trained and capable of extended operations in extremely remote and hostile environments. The 1st SFG (A) Soldiers wear a black and "Asian Gold" flash on their berets, and are linguistically and culturally oriented to specific countries and regions in Asia. Their missions include unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, direct action, foreign internal defense and counterterrorism. The 1st SFG (A) consists of four SF line battalions and a group support battalion. One SF line battalion is forward deployed to Okinawa, Japan. Each line SF battalion has multiple "A" teams manned by the Army's most highly trained Soldiers equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and equipment. An "A" team usually consists of 12 team members. The 1st SFG (Airborne) lineage can be traced to Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). This unit raised and led a guerrilla force known as the Kachin Rangers, which wrought havoc behind Japanese lines in Southeast Asia during World War II.

The modern 1st SFG (A) was activated on June 24, 1957, and stationed at Fort Buckner, Okinawa. Since then the group has carried out a variety of missions in the Asia/ Pacific region, including civic actions, foreign internal defense, counterinsurgency, reconnaissance and disaster relief. The 1st SFG (A) saw extensive combat in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia.

The 1st SFG (A) is currently the only unit in the Army to simultaneously support the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines. The 1st SFG (A) was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation-PHILPUC for its work against al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in the southern Philippines. Additionally, the 1st SFG (A) continues to meet its many requirements throughout the Pacific Theater and in the Korean Theater of Operation (KTO).

2nd Battalion,
75th Ranger Regiment
The 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, is one of four battalions assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and can deploy anywhere in the world for no-notice combat operations. The battalion is a lethal, agile and versatile special operations force that conducts forcible entry operations and special operations raids across the entire spectrum of combat. Capabilities include direct action raids in limited visibility, adverse weather, varied terrain, and complex operating environments to capture and or kill designated targets and seize terrain and strategic installations. Capable of infiltrating by land, sea or air, 2d Battalion is trained on a wide variety of mobility platforms, and operates fully integrated with supporting agencies and other special operations forces as required.

2d Ranger Battalion was originally organized in October 1948 as an element of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), better known as Merrill's Marauders, which was later redesignated the 75th Infantry. The battalion also traces its lineage through the six Ranger battalions of World War II, as well as the Airborne Ranger companies of the Korean UNITS Soldiers & Airmen Defending America Joint Base Lewis-McChord 15 and Vietnam conflicts. From assaulting Point Salinas Airfield, Grenada, in 1983 to Operation Safe Haven in 1996 to quell rioting outside Cuban refugee camps, 2d Battalion is an integral part of today's fight in the War on Terror. Since October 2001, in support of the War on Terror, Rangers have conducted a myriad of complex joint special operations in a wide spectrum of terrain and conditions — from the 10,000-foot mountains in Afghanistan to the urban sprawl of Baghdad. As the Army's premier raid force, 2d Battalion has conducted hundreds of successful air-assault raids and thousands of direct-action raids to capture or kill our nation's worst enemies.

From the arduous training to the continuous and demanding world-wide deployments, the Rangers of 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment continue to demonstrate their motto, "Rangers Lead the Way!"

66th Theater Aviation
Command
The 66th Theater Aviation Command was originally organized as the 66th Aviation Brigade on Nov. 1, 1986, at Fort Lewis, and activated on Oct. 1, 1987. The 66th transformed into a Theater Aviation Command on Sept. 1, 2006. The 66th TAC is one of only two Theater Aviation Commands within the Army structure and the only one-star Aviation Command within the National Guard. The 66th TAC commands two Theater Aviation Brigades and one Theater Airfield Operations Group. The 66th TAC includes 15 subordinate battalions throughout the United States, with company elements residing in 22 states.

The 66th TAC executes its mission utilizing a diverse array of Army aviation assets providing aviation support for the Active Army, Army Reserve and the National Guard. The 66th TAC's missions include air assault operations, medevac, troop and supply transport, airfield management and general support aviation command and control. The 66th TAC's 250 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft include the UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47D Chinook, C-12 Huron, C-23 Sherpa and the UC-35 executive jet. More than 2,500 Soldiers fly and maintain these aircraft in states as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Maine. The 66th TAC Soldiers and aircraft flew in support of numerous local and state emergencies during the 66th's 20-year existence to include local flood and forest fire missions, and operations in support of Hurricane Katrina assistance. Nearly all elements of the 66th TAC deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom during the past five years.

The Falcon Command stands ready to answer the nation's and states call in support of contingency operations throughout the world. Whatever the situation may dictate, the Falcon Command calls out delivering its touchstone motto, "Speed, Courage, and Power!"

4th Battalion, 160th Special
Operations Aviation Regiment
(Airborne)
The 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), was provisionally activated at Fort Lewis in July 2006. The unit was officially activated Dec. 6, 2007. It is one of four Army special-operations aviation battalions strategically located across the United States to support special-operations forces' mission and training requirements. The 160th SOAR provides rotary-wing aviation support to special-operations forces around the world. Its mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army Special Operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and war-fighting commanders.

Comprised of five companies, 4th Battalion includes a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, two Chinook heavyassault helicopter companies, one Black Hawk medium-assault helicopter company and a maintenance company.

Special-operations aviation Soldiers are handpicked for assignment and trained for special-operations missions in a variety of demanding terrain, including urban, mountain, desert and water environments. Most of their missions are conducted under the cover of darkness using night-vision goggles. The professionalism and capabilities of Army special-operations aviation are developed through a "train as you fight" mentality. Unmatched expertise and mission focus on nighttime operations lead to the regiment's nickname, the Night Stalkers. Time and again, the Soldiers of this unit demonstrate they live by their motto, "Night Stalkers Don't Quit." Special-operations aviators and support Soldiers remain actively engaged in the War on Terrorism supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 4th Battalion also provides training support to U.S. Pacific Command and West Coast special operations units.

404th Army Field
Support Brigade
In December 2002, Army Materiel Command established AMC Forward Stryker at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a subordinate organization of AMC, Continental United States (CONUS). The mission, provide the Stryker war fighter a single face for acquisition, logistics, and technology integration and sustainment support.

In June 2003, the first AMC Brigade Logistics Support Team was created as the Stryker Brigade Combat Team's tactical support interface to both AMC and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology or ASA (ALT).

In October 2003, AMC Forward Stryker re-organized as a direct subordinate unit of then, Army Field Support Command (AFSC), with the mission to establish, train and combat certify all Stryker BLSTs. AMC Forward Stryker developed the initial internal and external procedures on the critical path to official doctrine and policy.

In June 2005, the mission of AMC Forward Stryker expanded to provide command and control of the Logistics Assistance Program throughout the Pacific, adding Washington, Hawaii and Alaska to the area of responsibility.

On Aug 15, 2005, the Army Field Support Brigade Pacific officially activated. Every aspect of Army transformation associated with AFSB Pacific became a lesson for future AMC brigade level development and logistics transformation and battlefield support. On October 16, 2007, the Army Field Support Brigade Pacific was renamed the 404th Army Field Support Brigade-Pacific (Provisional). The brigade continued to support Army Force Generation as well as the AMC's Life Cycle Management Commands logistics assistance program.

By August 2007, the brigade was fully engaged resetting the force and developing Fort Lewis as a power projection platform. In addition, expanding CONUS support including responsibility for all AMC logistics support to California, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

In August 2007, the brigade established the 404th AFSB-Pacific Forward at Fort Shafter, HI. providing a forward presence to the 8th Theater Support Command and the United States Army, Pacific Command. On Oct. 16, 2008, the brigade completed another milestone in its evolution deactivating the 404th AFSB-Pacific (Provisional) and officially activating the 404th Army Field Support Brigade. Today, the 404th Army Field Support Brigade proudly continues its mission and "Sustain to Win."

Eighth Brigade, U.S. Army
Cadet Command (ROTC)
The U.S. Army Cadet Command's 8th Brigade at JBLM is one of eight geographical brigades in the command that manage senior and junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs. The 8th Brigade is responsible for ROTC programs at colleges and universities in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa. The brigade advises high school junior ROTC programs in the same footprint. Each summer, JBLM hosts the Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as Warrior Forge, Cadet Command's flagship training and assessment exercise for more than 6,400 Army ROTC cadets from across the nation. The 8th Brigade is responsible for planning and executing the event and for the assessment of cadets who might become Army officers. Senior ROTC produces nearly two-thirds of the Army's officer corps, annually commissioning about 4,500 officers for the Active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. ROTC offers scholarships and financial assistance to qualified college students throughout the region. Successful completion of the training is a requirement for receiving a commission as a second lieutenant. Junior ROTC motivates young people to be better citizens. The program builds self-esteem and confidence, teaching the importance of graduating from high school.

191st Infantry Brigade
The 191st Infantry Brigade is a group of highly trained and experienced active-duty Reserve and National Guard Soldiers whose mission is to assist Reserve component units in achieving and maintaining proficiency and readiness for mobilization and deployment in the event of a national emergency as part of our nation's contingency force. It does this by providing training assistance and support to near- and long-range planning, objective evaluations and enforcing the Army standards in training execution.

The brigade is organized as a tri-component unit (Active, Army National Guard and Army Reserve) of Division-West, First Army, and is made up of 10 subordinate AC and RC battalions consisting of combat arms, combat support and combat service support elements. The 191st Infantry Brigade supports and provides training assistance and support to enhance readiness of units in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho, for more than 332 units ranging from surgical detachments to combat maneuver brigades. The brigade works closely with USAR Regional Support Headquarters, RC units, National Guard state headquarters, I Corps Headquarters and other supporting units to provide the best possible support. In addition to the normal peacetime training of these units, the brigade is also responsible for mobilization preparedness and training prior to deployment in the event of a national emergency. The brigade provides mobilization-assistance teams and collective training support to the regional powerprojection platforms and power-support platforms during mobilization.

In 2003, 191st Infantry Brigade Reserve Soldiers were mobilized, and now the brigade has more than half of its Reserve Soldiers training mobilized Soldiers to go to war. Currently, the brigade conducts the collective training that is part of the base's mobilization mission to ready Active component, National Guard, Reserve Component, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy units for deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Headquarters, 6th Military
Police Group (CID)
Headquarters, 6th Military Police Group (CID), moved to Fort Lewis in 1993 from the Presidio of San Francisco, Calif. This unit is the higher headquarters for the 22nd Military Police Battalion (CID), the 44th Military Police Detachment (CID), and the 89th Military Police Detachment (CID) all located on JBLM. The group and its four battalions have an area of responsibility including all Army installations west of the Mississippi River to Japan and South Korea, with a mission of investigating all serious crimes for the Army and providing tactical criminal investigative command and control to Army headquarters. The 22nd MP Bn (CID) has the mission to investigate serious crimes and conduct sensitive or special investigations involving Army interests in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, northern Oklahoma and Alaska. The 22nd MP Bn (CID) has offices providing criminal-investigative support to I Corps and JBLM; Fort Irwin and Monterey, Calif., Fort Carson, Colo., Fort Wainwright and Fort Richardson, Alaska, and their sub-installations.

The 22nd MP Bn (CID) also provides logistical security, criminal intelligence, and investigative support for I Corps and other units during overseas contingency operations.

Washington Regional
Flight Center at JBLM
The Washington Regional Flight Center is an Operational Support Airlift Command unit staffed with a multicomponent force of active Guard, active-duty Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians who work to assist the Joint Operational Support Airlift Center in performing OSA missions.

The unit's mission is to provide OSA support to all government agencies that have a need to travel in an official capacity, whether it is stateside or overseas.

This mission does not change in time of local, regional or national emergency. In the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, OSACOM units throughout 50 states and two territories provided immediate airlift support to all levels of federal government, even during the Federal Aviation Administration's grounding of all aircraft.

The WARFC provides fixed-wing OSA support to all services, government civilians and some contractors who have a requirement for official business travel. In order to use the WARFC, visit www.dtic.mil/whs/ directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2768. pdf. fill out the DD 2768. After it's signed fax to 253-967-6002 or e-mail the form request to the JBLM validator at lewisdptmsbaseops@conus.army.mil.

Western Regional
Medical Command
The Western Regional Medical Command is commanded by a two-star general. It is comprised of 20-states, and is the largest of the Army's three regional medical commands that are located in the continental United States. The mission of the WRMC is to provide integrated, accessible, comprehensive, and world-class quality health service to our forces, and those we serve at our installations and communities. The central headquarters for the Western Region is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and includes a staff of nearly 150 military and civilian personnel. The commanding general has oversight of Army medical treatment facilities and medical assets within the entire 20-state region, and oversees the health care delivery process of hundreds of thousands of Active, National Guard and Reserve Component Soldiers, their families and retirees and their family members.

There are 11 Army medical treatment facilities located within the western region: Madigan UNITS Soldiers & Airmen Defending America Joint Base Lewis-McChord 17 Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin, Calif.; California Medical Detachment, Presidio of Monterrey, Calif.; Bassett Army Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas; Gen. Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo.; Irwin Army Community Hospital, Fort Riley, Kan.; Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; Munson Army Health Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; and McAfee Medical Detachment, White Sands, N.M.

Additionally, the region includes 11 Warrior transition units that serve more than 2,000 wounded, injured, or ill Warriors. The region also includes state-of-the-art traumatic brain injury clinics consisting of interdisciplinary TBI teams that work together to provide quality medical treatment and education to Warriors. The commanding general of the Western Regional Medical Command also has oversight of the region's Readiness Command, which is located at Fort Bliss. The mission of this command is to plan, oversee, and standardize the execution of pre-and-post deployment medical and dental functions throughout western region.

Public Health Command
Region-West
The Public Health Command Region-West (PHCR-West) provides public health and veterinary consultation and technical support to more than 200 installations across 20 western states, including Alaska. PHCR-West is a regional asset of the U.S. Army Public Health Command, in turn a subordinate command of U.S. Army Medical Command.

The military and civilian personnel assigned to PHCR-West are organized into several technical divisions.

The Environmental Health Engineering Division provides sanitary evaluation of garrison and field-potable water supplies, pollution prevention surveys and training, evaluation of hazardous and regulated medical waste management practices, assessments of vulnerability to the food and water systems, wastewater and storm water control, and environmental health site assessments.

The role of the Entomological Sciences Division is to protect Soldiers, their families and DoD civilians from the health threat posed by vector-borne diseases and medically important pests. ESD provides pest management assistance visits, identification of medically important pests and genetic testing for vector-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Hantavirus. The Industrial Hygiene Division anticipates, recognizes, evaluates, and prevents or minimizes worker exposures to hazardous chemicals, and biological and physical agents on the job. Services include consultation and field surveys to identify or measure actual or potential hazards to workers, recommendation of appropriate engineering controls and/or personal protective equipment, and identification of Soldiers and civilian personnel who might require specialized medical surveillance to monitor and sustain their health and well-being.

The Field Preventive Medicine Division trains preventive medicine personnel assigned to units such as brigade combat teams, military police battalions, and medical detachments. The training's primary focus is to enhance operational readiness, increase proficiency with deployment environmental and occupational health sampling, employment of surveillance equipment, and to highlight current force health protection measures that minimize casualties and losses from disease and non-battle injury.

PHCR-W is one of five Army regional public health commands. Its headquarters, U.S. Army Public Health Command, is responsible for promoting health and preventing disease, injury and disability in Soldiers and military retirees, their families, and Army civilian employees; and to assure effective execution of full-spectrum veterinary services for Army and DOD veterinary missions.

JBLM Dental Activity
The JBLM Dental Activity consists of six on-base dental clinics, one of which is located at Madigan Army Medical Center on the second floor of the Medical Mall. All dental specialties are represented. Each clinic has assigned units for which it is responsible. Members of these units can obtain dental care either on an emergency basis or by scheduling an appointment.

Active-duty personnel can receive emergency care at their assigned dental clinic on a walk-in basis, weekdays. For emergency care after duty hours, on weekends or holidays, report to the Emergency Room at Madigan Army Medical Center. Spouses and children of active-duty servicemembers are eligible to be enrolled in the Family Member TRICARE Dental Program. New enrollees must continue in the TDP for at least 12 months. Enrolled family members may receive dental care from any licensed/ authorized dentist in the civilian community. Questions regarding dental services offered on base can be answered by calling the Dental Activity Headquarters at 968-4035 or McChord Field at 982-5505.

The Veterinary
Treatment Facility
The JBLM VTF offers limited pet care for active-duty and retired military personnel. The VTF treats pets for zoonotic and communicable diseases, gives routine vaccinations and issues health certificates for international and interstate travel. Health certificates are also required for child care (FCC) providers. Pets living on base must be registered with the VTF within 10 calendar days of occupancy of government quarters or when a housing occupant acquires a new pet.

Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m; closed for lunch, noon to 1 p.m. Appointments may be made by calling 982-3951 at McChord Field.

If you see a stray or lost animal on base, call the JBLM Military Police at 967- 3107/3108; at McChord Field, call Security Forces at 982-5624/5625/982-2001. Any stray animals found on JBLM are now taken to the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County.

Lost pets are kept for a minimum of three days, though if not reclaimed by an owner, most are kept longer to give them a better chance at adoption. Pets surrendered by owners are immediately available for adoption, as there is no minimum holding period on owner-released pets. These pets can be here for anywhere from a few minutes to 10 or more days. Many underage pets are taken into volunteer foster care until old enough to be adopted. For more information call 383-2733.

62nd Airlift Wing
The 62nd Airlift Wing is the Air Force active-duty component of Joint Base Lewis- McChord. The wing is part of Air Mobility Command and provides the Department of Defense a fast, flexible and responsive airlift capability, with a primary mission to develop and sustain expeditionary Airmen to deliver global airlift for America. In addition, as the provider of the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, the 62nd is the only wing in the Department of Defense tasked to airlift nuclear weapons and materials.

The 62nd Airlift Wing also maintains the readiness of more than 2,500 active duty and civilian personnel, along with 43 permanently assigned C-17 Globemaster IIIs, to support combat and humanitarian contingencies. These requirements range from supplying humanitarian airlift relief to victims of disasters, to airdropping troops into the heart of overseas contingency operations in hostile areas. The 62nd Airlift Wing, executes its motto of "Airlift Excellence...Right Here...Right Now!," by utilizing the C-17 Globemaster III, the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft can also perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions when required.

The 62nd Airlift Wing was established as the 62nd Troop Carrier Wing on July 28, 1947, calling McChord Field (formerly Air Force Base), Wash., home on Aug. 15, 1947. Two groups and 19 support agencies make up the 62nd Airlift Wing:
• 62nd Operations Group plans and executes air and space power, and plans and trains for operational levels of war.
• 62nd Maintenance Group has a single focus - to perform all maintenance on assigned C-17 aircraft.
• Support agencies include: safety, public affairs, finance, protocol, historian, inspector general, staff judge advocate, plan and programs and more.

627 Air Base Group
The 627th Air Base Group exists to maintain the Air Force structure as it relates to organizing, training, and equipping (OT&E) Airmen to deploy. More than 1,000 missionready Airmen in the 627th Air Base Group are prepared to provide Expeditionary Combat Support for military operations worldwide. The 627th Air Base Group staff is responsible for the administrative functions in caring for Airmen in the JBLM construct. This office processes all administrative routing of awards, decorations, evaluations, and coordination of staff summary packages to include OT&E subject matter. Within the Joint Base Garrison, 627th Airmen carry out the mission day-to-day directly supporting 37,000 military, 10,000 civilians, 52,000 family members, and 17,000 retirees. The group includes civil engineer, logistics, force support, communications, and security forces squadrons that provide installation support for 4,055 facilities on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

446th Airlift Wing
The 446th Airlift Wing has 13 squadrons, four flights and 2,200 Air Force Reservists and civilians supporting McChord Field's global C-17 Globemaster III missions - airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation. Since 9/11, the wing has flown nearly 40 percent of the daily missions out of McChord Field, deployed professionals from a wide range of specialties to locations around the globe and continuously supported the mission here at home. The 446th Operations Group includes the 97th, 728th and 313th Airlift Squadrons and the Reserve-unique 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. The highly experienced aviation and medical professionals from these squadrons have continuously supported Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn since 2001, by flying operational missions and multiple deployments to U.S. CENTCOM.

The 446th Maintenance Group includes the 446th Maintenance Squadron and the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons. Their mission is to keep the 56 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to McChord Field always mission capable. Air Force Reserve "maintainers" have also been heavily tasked for overseas missions and deployments in support of the C-17 at locations around the world.

The 446th Mission Support Group includes the 446th Force Support Squadron, 446th Security Force Squadron, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron, and the 36th and 86th Aerial Port Squadrons, all with missions of vital support to Air Force people and aircraft.

The 446th Airlift Wing also has strong ties to the community. Nearly 86 percent of the wing's Reservists live and work in Western Washington, with the remainder living in 38 other states. The wing has an indirect economic impact of $88 million annually, and partners with South Sound communities on tours, presentations, orientation flights, flyovers and military appreciation events. The wing, assigned to Fourth Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., comes under the command of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The wing also provides direct support to the U.S. military's combatant commanders and is tasked, for operational missions, through Air Mobility Command's Tanker Airlift Control Center, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

The Western Air Defense Sector
The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), with headquarters at McChord, is the larger of two sectors responsible to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Continental NORAD Region for peacetime air sovereignty, strategic air defense, and airborne counter-drug operations in the continental United States. WADS is a Washington Air National Guard unit that reports directly to AFNORTH/1st Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

WADS is made up of personnel from the Washington Air National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S Navy, Title 5 civilians, civilian contractors and Canadian Forces Air Command. This bi-national organization exercises operational control of ANG fighter aircraft on continuous alert at several locations and uses radar data and the radio capabilities of Joint Surveillance System sites located throughout the western United States. These sites, jointly funded and used by the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, are operated and maintained by FAA personnel. The Sector also uses radar data from tethered aerostats and gap-filler radars to improve its low-level coverage of the nation's southwestern border. Radar data from all these sources are electronically fed into computers at the Sector Operations Control Center, where personnel correlate and identify all airborne targets and, if necessary, scramble alert fighters to identify those whose origin is unknown. As part of NORAD, the Sector is the lead Department of Defense agency for interdiction of drug-smuggling aircraft. In wartime, the Sector gains additional fighter, tanker and E-3 aircraft to detect, intercept and, if required, destroy hostile aircraft and/or cruise missiles.

1st Air Support Operations Group
The 1st Air Support Operations Group (ASOG) directs four squadrons operating from eleven locations in Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and Japan. The group provides an Air Support Operations Center, Tactical Air Control Parties and Battlefield Weather Teams to Army combat units at multiple echelons including United States Army Pacific, I Corps, and nine aviation, airborne, infantry and Stryker brigade combat teams of the 2nd and 25th Infantry Divisions. The group's ALOs and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers advise Army commanders and staffs on all aspects of joint airpower employment, integrating and synchronizing close air support, air mobility, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities into strategy, plans and operations.

22 Special Tactics Squadron
The unit was designated the 1722nd Combat Control Squadron and activated on July 1 1984 at McChord Air Force Base, assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force. It was re-designated the 62nd Combat Control Squadron on June 1, 1992, under the 62nd Operations Group, and finally the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron on May 1, 1996, aligned under the 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The 22nd STS is primarily comprised of four specialties: combat controllers, special operations pararescuemen and special operations weathermen.

Combat controllers are battlefield Airmen trained in special operations and certified FAA air traffic controllers. The mission of a CCT is to deploy, undetected, into combat and hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control, fire support, command and control, direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance and special reconnaissance in the joint UNITS - AIR FORCE COMMANDS arena. Their motto, "First There," reaffirms the combat controller's commitment to undertaking the most dangerous missions behind enemy lines by leading the way for other forces to follow.

Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only Department of Defense specialty specifically trained and equipped to conduct conventional or unconventional rescue operations. These battlefield Airmen are the ideal force for personnel recovery and combat search and rescue. A PJ's primary function is as a personnel recovery specialist, with emergency medical capabilities in humanitarian and combat environments. PJs deploy in any available manner, to include air-land-sea tactics, into restricted environments to authenticate, extract, treat, stabilize and evacuate injured personnel. PJs participate in search and rescue, combat search and rescue, recovery support for NASA and conduct other operations as appropriate. Pararescuemen are among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialists in the U.S. military. They must maintain an Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic qualification throughout their careers. With this medical and rescue expertise, along with their deployment capabilities, PJs are able to perform life-saving missions in the world's most remote areas. Their motto, "That Others May Live," reaffirms the PJ's commitment to saving lives and self-sacrifice.

Special Operations Weather Teams are Air Force meteorologists with unique training to operate in hostile or denied territory. They gather, assess, and interpret weather and environmental intelligence from forward deployed locations, working primarily with Air Force and Army Special Operations Forces. They collect weather, ocean, river, snow and terrain intelligence, assist mission planning, generate accurate mission-tailored ta get and route forecasts in support of global special operations and train joint force members and coalition partners to take and communicate limited weather observations. Additionally, SOWT conduct special reconnaissance, collect upper air data, organize, establish and maintain weather data reporting networks, determine host nation meteorological capabilities and train foreign national forces.

Every Special Operations Forces mission is planned using the intelligence and coordination of special operations weathermen.

The Tactical Air Control Party provides Air Force assistance and expertise in planning and controlling combat air resources. They also operate and supervise communications nets to support Army ground maneuver units.  read more...