Units
Updated On: 4/9/2012 10:28:46 AM

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 qualityof-
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, Training, Mobilization and Security. 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
327,000 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 brand-new 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 halfcentury.
I Corps replaced XVIII Airborne Corps
and assumed duties as the Multi-National
Corps-Iraq. On New Year's Day 2010, MNCI,
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.
On May 26, 2011 I Corps cased its colors
for deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan to lead
the International Security Assistance Force
Joint Command. I Corps will play a pivotal
role alongside 47 other contributing nations
to bring stability and security to the country.
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
and force protection mission support for I
Corps and JBLM.
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. It
soon deployed in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom to increase Iraqi Police readiness
and force protection to coalition partners. The
42D MP Brigade deployed again in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom on 16 March 2008,
but this time it conducted theater-wide internment
facility and reconciliation center operations
and managed an Iraqi correctional officer
training academy. The brigade is currently
deployed in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom where it is overseeing detention
operations in Bagram, Afghanistan.
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 are currently deployed in support of
Iraq and/or Afghanistan, where they conducted
combat-support, 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 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 595th MP Company is currently
deployed in support to Afghanistan and
is conducting detention 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 and Joint
Base Lewis-McChord and to provide a safe and
secure environment for the Soldiers, Airmen,
civilians, and families who live and work on or
visit the installation. The DES performs these
important missions through the combined
efforts of approximately 750 Soldiers, Airmen,
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 Fire Protection, Fire Prevention and
the Emergency Communications Center/911
Center; Support Services Division; and the
Protection Division which provides Antiterrorism/
Force Protection support for JBLM.
2nd Brigade,
2nd Infantry Division
The 2d Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2d
Infantry Division was first organized in October
1920 in the Regular Army at Camp Travis,
Texas, as Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 4th Infantry Brigade, and assigned
to the 2d Division. The unit was redesignated
on March 23,1925 as Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade and again
on August 24, 1936 as Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade.
It was disbanded on October 16, 1939 at Fort
Francis E. Warren, Wyoming.
The Brigade was reconstituted on January
25, 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
and activated on February 15, 1963 at Fort
Benning, Georgia. From there it followed
the 1st Brigade, 2d Infantry Division to the
Republic of Korea in 1965, where it was stationed
until 2005. Prior to its redeployment to
the United States in 2005, the 2d Brigade, 2d
Infantry Division was the Army's only Light/
Heavy Brigade, with 2 Air Assault Battalions,
the 1-503rd Infantry (Air Assault) and the
1-506th Infantry (Air Assault).
On May 17, 2004, the 2nd Brigade, 2nd
Infantry Division received the order to deploy
to Iraq with less than three months notice,
additionally the unit was informed that the
unit would redeploy to Fort Carson, not back
to Korea. 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 new 2d Brigade
Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division returned
to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom VI.
After the deployment the 2d Brigade Combat
Team, 2d Infantry Division was subsequently
inactivated in April 2008. During that tour in
Iraq, 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
Cross for actions during this tour.
In July 2010, the 2nd Stryker Brigade
Combat Team "Lancers", 2nd Infantry Division
was activated at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The brigade currently stands ready to deploy
as needed to disrupt or destroy enemy military
forces, control land areas (including populations
and resources), and to conduct combat
operations to protect U.S. national interests.
The unit is also postured to deploy, on order,
to neutralize the insurgency and protect the
people in our area of operations as part of the
ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
The 2nd Brigade is currently a Stryker
Brigade Combat Team composed of six battalions:
2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment;
1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment;
4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment;
8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment; 2nd
Battalion, 17th Field Artillery; and the 2nd
Brigade Support Battalion.
"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 Germans. 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. Twentyfour
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 its 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 year
long 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 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, Washington
on June 1, 2006, after forming as the Army's
fourth Stryker Brigade sixteen months earlier.
In April 2007, the Raider Brigade deployed
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during
the "Surge" period and became the first
Stryker brigade to deploy with all ten variants
of the Stryker combat vehicle. During more
than thirteen 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,
helping the Iraqi people begin reconciliation,
rebuilding, and self-governance.
Upon return from Iraq in June of 2008,
the Raiders began an intense six month
reset period, repairing, replacing and fielding
new equipment in preparation for their next
deployment. The brigade had been scheduled
for two years of stateside training and
preparation at Fort Lewis, but due to the
increased operational tempo in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the deployment was accelerated
by nine months.
The Raiders arrived in Iraq in September
2009, answering the Army's need for a
Stryker brigade to facilitate the responsible
drawdown of American combat forces from
Iraq and to help build the Iraqi Security Forces
into effective guardians of the Iraqi people.
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
how far these security forces had
come, with the help and support of the Raider
Brigade. Over 60 percent of Iraqis turned
out to vote, despite early morning violence,
a testament to the determined will of the
Iraqi people.
In order to meet President Obama's
September 1st deadline of 50,000 U.S. troops
in Iraq, planning for the brigade's redeployment
began shortly after the Iraqi elections.
Senior commanders on the ground were able
to maintain maximum combat power and
operational flexibility up to that deadline, by
executing the redeployment efficiently and
within a minimal window of time.
While roughly half of the brigade flew
home from Iraq, approximately 2,000 Raiders
departed in mid-August via a Tactical Road
March (TRM) from Victory Base Complex
and Camp Taji to Kuwait. Dubbed "The Last
Patrol," the historic movement involved 360
vehicles, including 320 Strykers, and covered
360 miles from Baghdad to Kuwait, retracing
many of the same routes used during the
military's initial movement into Iraq years
earlier. The completion of this final mission
and departure of the last US combat brigade
on August 19th represented the symbolic end
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and set the stage
for Operation New Dawn, which began on
September 1st.
On August 21st, the brigade cased its
colors in Kuwait for movement back to Joint
Base Lewis-McChord, officially uncasing them
on October 7, 2010. The Raiders lost no time
renewing a rigorous training cycle, with an
eye towards full-spectrum readiness: the
brigade would prepare for future missions
of any size and scope, including offensive,
defensive, and stability operations.
Through the summer and fall of 2011,
the 4th Brigade took part in and supported
a variety of training missions both here
and overseas. Most notably, the Raiders
played a key role in the execution of ROTC's
Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), or "Operation Warrior Forge," the
central, culminating training event for more
than 6,500 senior ROTC cadets across the
nation. The Raiders provided both behindthe-
scenes support and out-front leadership;
they set up and maintained training sites,
provided logistic support, executed live-fire
demonstrations, and helped train the cadets.
At the same time, the brigade sent units
overseas to take part in joint training exercises
with Pacific partners Australia and
Singapore.
The Raiders ended the summer preparing
for October training events at the Yakima
Training Center, including a series of battalion
exercises dubbed "Raider Fusion" and the
joint U.S.-Japanese exercise "Rising Thunder."
16th Combat Aviation Brigade
The 16th Combat Aviation Group was
formed in battle on January 23, 1968. The
unit was activated at Marble Mountain,
Danang in the northern most part of south
Vietnam. At the time of activation, the 16th
Combat Aviation Group was formed from
two battalions, the 14th Combat Aviation
Battalion and the 212th Combat Support
Aviation Battalion with a total combat force
3300 personnel.
Provisionally established in October
2005 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska Task Force
49 originally oversaw 4-123d Aviation
Battalion, 1-52d Aviation Battalion, 68th
Medical Company (Air Ambulance), and
C-123d Aviation Maintenance Company. In
February 2006, Task Force 49 was formally
established, 4-123d Aviation Battalion was
inactivated and 1-52d Aviation Battalion was
reorganized into a General Support Aviation
Battalion. The 6-17th Cavalry Squadron and
elements from the 209th Aviation Support
Battalion were relocated from Wheeler Army
Air Base, Hawaii to Fort Wainwright, Alaska
in May 2006. While not part of the 16th CAB
lineage, 6-17 CAV was under the command
and control of 16th CAB from May 2006 to
July 2011.
Beginning in July 2007, TF 49 had company
elements continuously deployed for 31
consecutive months in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom. The first unit to deploy from
Task Force 49 was the CH-47 based Task
Force Dragon, composed primarily of B
Company, 1-52d Aviation Battalion. Task
Force Dragon supported two marine aircraft
wings in Al Anbar, Iraq from July 2007 to
August 2008.
From November 2007 to December
2008, HHC, Task Force 49, deployed, and
assumed command of the Multi-National
Corps Iraq Aviation Brigade in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in July
2008, HHC Task Force 49 assumed command
of the Multi-National Division-Center
Aviation Brigade at Baghdad International
Airport Iraq.
The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry
deployed as Task Force Saber to Iraq in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09
with D Company, 123rd attached. The
Squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit
Commendation for their performance in
Northern Iraq from July 2008 to July 2009.
In November 2008, C Co.1-52 Med
deployed for a year in support of OIF
08-10 and was assigned to Multi-National
Division - South, where they flew over 1000
combat MEDEVAC missions and saved
countless lives.
From February 2009 to February 2010,
the GSAB's Command Aviation Company,
A Co.1-52, deployed to Iraq in support of
MND-Center and MND-South. Throughout
all of the brigade's operational requirements
in support of the Global War on Terror,
C Co.123d AVIM deployed detachments
and provided outstanding aircraft maintenance
support.
On October 16, 2009, Headquarters
and Headquarters Company Task Force 49
was re-designated as Headquarters and
Headquarters Company 16th Combat Aviation
Brigade, and activated at Fort Wainwright,
Alaska becoming the Army's twelfth active
duty Combat Aviation Brigade.
16th CAB's first operational deployment
was in August 2010 to provide Humanitarian
Assistance to Pakistan. Task Force Denali,
consisting of elements from 1-52 GSAB, C
Co.123d AVIM and HHC/BDE, conducted a
100-day operation in response to Pakistan's
flood disaster.
In February 2011, 6-17 CAV and C/1-52
Medevac deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
respectively.
The 1-229 Attack Reconnaissance
Battalion (AH-64), stationed at Fort Hood,
Texas joined the 16th CAB in July 2010. The
1-229th deployed to Iraq in support of
Operation New Dawn in March 2011.
In June, 2011, 1-52 deployed Team
Denali, a CH-47 based unit, to Operation
Enduring Freedom to support operations in
southern Afghanistan.
On June 15, 2011, the 16th CAB cased
the brigade's colors at Fort Wainwright,
Alaska and moved the Headquarters and
Headquarters Company to Joint Base Lewis
McChord, Washington.
The colors were uncased at JBLM on
August 1, 2011, along with the activation of
2-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB)
and 46th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB).
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 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, 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 performed 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, from
operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
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
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
To address the need for intelligence in
the context of the 21st century threat, the
Army developed and transformed nine units
into the Battlefield Surveillance Brigades.
On July 3, 2008, the 201st Battlefield
Surveillance Brigade (BfSB) became just the
third such unit, designed to provide rapidly
deployable all-source, predictive intelligence,
electronic warfare capabilities, reconnaissance
and surveillance, target acquisition,
and broad bandwidth communications in
support of I Corps.
The brigade is an Army Modular Force
that has the tools to respond to commanders'
intelligence needs and secure territory,
as well as the ability to be self-sustaining,
providing for its own maintenance and
sustenance. Within the BfSB, you will find
Soldiers from almost every Army discipline
including military intelligence, infantry,
armor, signals, logistics, aviation, artillery,
air defense and more.
The 201st BfSB consists of a Brigade
Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) that houses
the headquarters and headquarters company,
a signals company (Network Support
Company, or NSC), and a Forward Support
Company (FSC). There are two military
intelligence battalions, the 109th Military
Intelligence Battalion and the 502nd Military
Intelligence Battalion. The brigade also has
a reconnaissance and surveillance squadron,
3-38 Cavalry, consisting of a headquarters
troop, two ground troops (Troops A and B)
and a Long Range Surveillance (LRS) company
(Troop C).
The 201st BfSB carries the history
and lineage of two units, which were
both founded during World War II: 503rd
Army Security Group and 201st Military
Intelligence Detachment.
The 503rd Army Security Group was
activated in 1942. While stationed on the
Marshall Islands, the 503rd supported
Army Air Force units in the Pacific. They
were inactivated in 1946 at Andrews Field,
Camp Spring, Maryland, and then reactivated
in 1951 as 503rd Communications
Reconnaissance Group.
The 201st Military Intelligence
Detachment activated in 1944 in New
Guinea. It was deactivated shortly after
WWII, but reactivated in 1950 in Korea,
participating in operations throughout the
Korean conflict.
The lineage of the 503rd Army Security
Group and the 201st Military Intelligence
Detachment merged on September 1, 1987
when the 201st Military Intelligence Brigade
was activated at Ft. Lewis, WA. In 2002, the
Brigade was reorganized as a multi-component
brigade in the Army Reserve.
On July 3, 2008, the 201st Battlefield
Surveillance Brigade was activated as a
purely active duty unit. They deployed to
Iraq just over a year later and returned having
earned a Meritorious Unit Citation for
their service.
555th Engineer Brigade
The 555th Engineer Brigade "Triple
Nickel" reactivated on Joint Base Lewis
McChord 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) 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 555th Engineer Brigade provides mission
command and resources assigned and
attached forces allowing them to accomplish
their mission. On order, deploys to command
and control full spectrum engineer operations
in support of Army, Joint or Combined Joint
Task Forces.
Subordinate units include the 864th
Engineer Battalion and 14th Engineer Battalion
on JBLM, the 1st Engineer Battalion at
Fort Riley, KS, and the 4th Engineer Battalion
and 52nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson,
Colo. The brigade maintains administrative
control of three additional JBLM units:
23rd Chemical Battalion, 110th Chemical
Battalion (Technical Escort), 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 has served three tours
in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2011 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 in order to maintain freedom of
action for coalition forces. The unit has again
returned overseas for their fourth deployment,
this time in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom; their primary mission for
2012 is route clearance.
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.
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.
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-theart
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 part of the Army's premier,
direct-action raid force, capable of conducting
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.
The 75th Ranger Regiment remains an
all-volunteer force with an intensive screening
and selection process followed by combatfocused
training. The 75th Ranger Regiment
is a proud unit and a team of teams - serving
the nation.
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 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
direct action 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 worldwide 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. What ever 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 five 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 warfighting
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 New Dawn. 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 Operation 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.
Successful completion of the training is
a requirement for receiving a commission
as a second lieutenant. Senior ROTC produces
nearly two-thirds of the Army's officer
corps, annually commissioning about 5,000
officers for the Active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. ROTC offers scholarships
and financial assistance to qualified
college students throughout the region. Junior
ROTC motivates young people to become
strong leaders and better citizens. The program
builds self-esteem and confidence,
teaching the importance of graduating from
high school.
189th Infantry Brigade
The 189th Infantry Brigade conducts premobilization
and post-mobilization training for
both active and reserve component organizations
in support of all overseas contingency
operations. The brigade is a multi-component
unit made up of world-class Soldier-trainers
from the active component, U.S. Army Reserve,
and the National Guard and is organized into
a brigade headquarters and mixture of active
duty and USAR training support battalions.
The 189th Infantry Brigade is part of First
Army Division-West, which is headquartered at
Fort Hood, Texas. The brigade's headquarters
is located in Building 4290 on Joint Base
Lewis-McChord.
The primary focus of the 189th Infantry
Brigade is the planning, preparation, and
execution of tough and realistic training for
National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units
preparing for overseas deployment in all environments.
However, the brigade also provides
training support to any active component, joint,
or multi-national formations as directed by 1st
Army or FORSCOM in support of the Army
Force Generation (ARFORGEN) process.
Additionally, the brigade stands ready to
assist with the annual training of National
Guard and Reserve units within the Contingency
Expeditionary Force.
Many of the training support missions
involve temporary duty at mobilization training
centers and reserve training centers throughout
the western United States.
The long history of the 189th Infantry
Brigade began when it was constituted on
June 24, 1921 and assigned to the 95th
Division. The brigade traces its lineage to the
95th Reconnaissance Troop, which distinguished
itself in World War II during the campaigns
in Central Europe, Northern France,
Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace and earned the
unit motto: "Swift and Lethal."
Since WW II, the brigade has performed
duties as a training formation under a variety of
unit designations in both the active Army and
U.S. Army Reserve.
In 2006, concurrent with the transformation
of 1st Army, the 189th Infantry Brigade
was reactivated and organized under the 1st
Army Division East where it has proudly served
until September 7, 2011 when it was assigned
to 1st Army Division West here at Joint Base
Lewis-McCord.
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
power-projection 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 Kansas.
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 Riley, Kansas
and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
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 comprised of 20-states, and is the largest,
geographically, of the Army's three regional
medical commands that are located in the
continental United States.
Located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
the region's central headquarters includes
a staff of nearly 200 military and civilian
personnel. The two-star commanding general
has oversight of the nine Army medical
treatment facilities, two medical detachments,
and other 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. The WRMC commander
also has oversight of the Region's Readiness
Division, which is located at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Its mission is to plan, oversee, and standardize
the execution of pre-and-post deployment
medical and dental functions throughout the
Western Regional Medical Command.
Caring for America's wounded, ill and
injured service members is a mission the region
takes very seriously. There are 11 Warrior
Transition units in the Western Region that
serve more than 2,000 warriors. The Army's
first newly constructed WTB facility opened
in 2010 at Fort Riley, Kan. These units
facilitate access to health care services so
that warriors can return to duty or make
a successful transition to civilian life. The
region also boasts 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.
Ongoing collaborations with civilian and
military health care partners have resulted in
the implementation of new programs and initiatives
that underscore the region's commitment
to providing quality health care. Virtual
Behavioral Health is one of those initiatives
that enables medical providers to conduct
BH screenings while at an installation other
than the Soldier's Soldier Readiness
Processing site. Currently, twenty-five percent
of the region's returning Soldiers who
are considered low-risk receive BH screenings
using high-definition video cameras.
This capability allows behavioral health assets
in the region to maintain continuity of care
with Soldiers and family members during
their redeployment cycle.
Further enhancing the quality of care
provided to Soldiers and family members
are the region's graduate medical and nursing
education programs. There are two
GME Programs in the Western Region that
are charged with ensuring medical personnel
have access to state-of-the-art training:
Madigan Healthcare System, Joint Base
Lewis-McChord and William Beaumont AMC,
Fort Bliss, Texas. Both facilities have the mission
of training military and civilian medical
professionals, from all services, in a variety of
medical and nursing specialties. Additionally,
partnerships with local colleges and universities
provide opportunities for medical staff to
rotate at civilian health care institutes.
Since 2009, the WRMC has grown by
14 states and has been transformed into an
integrated system of care. Team Western
Region remains committed to exceeding the
expectations of its beneficiaries by developing
and maintaining lasting relationships built
on trust. The Western Regional Medical Command
has oversight of the following MTFs:
Madigan 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..
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 service members 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.
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
air dropping 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,
finance, protocol, historian, inspector
general, staff judge advocate, plans 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
43,000 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 deploy
ments to
U.S. CENTCOM.
The 446th Maintenance Group includes
the 446th Maintenance Squadron, 446th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 446th
Maintenance Operations Flight.
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), as well
as 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 drugsmuggling
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 1st Weather Squadron provides operational
and staff weather services for Army combat units
across the PACOM AOR. In addition, they train
and maintain combat readiness for world-wide
UNITS - AIR FORCE COMMANDS
battlefield weather deployments."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.
22nd 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 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 airland-
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 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. The unit collect
weather, ocean, river, snow and terrain intelligence,
assist mission planning, generate accurate
mission-tailored to obtain and route forecasts
in support of global special operations, the unit
also trains 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.
361st Recruiting
Squadron
The 361st Recruiting Squadron directs
and operates the recruiting activities of eight
enlisted accession flights with approximately
79 active-duty and nine civilian personnel. The
361st RCS is located at McChord Field, Joint
Base Lewis-McChord and covers a 728,000
square-mile area that includes Washington,
Oregon and Alaska. Its mission is to inspire,
engage and recruit the brightest, most competitive
and diverse men and women for service in
America's Air Force.
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