Making a Huge Difference As Part of One Team

U.S. Army Pacific

Orders arrived for Task Force 1-501 Parachute Infantry Regiment while they were at Fort Knox, Ky., assisting with Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) training. The task force would deploy within 45 days to Afghanistan as part of CJTF-180 (Combined Joint Task Force-180), an airborne task force that trains in the arctic of Fort Richardson, Alaska, runs lanes at Fort Knox for SBCT training and then deploys to fight on one of the global war on terrorism's battlefields. U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) soldiers and civilians remain focused on the Pacific but are ready and able to answer the call to arms anywhere. Our desire to get the job done-and then some-defines the Army in the Pacific 'One Team" spirit.

Pacific Army soldier and civilian deployments outside the Pacific Theater are now a common occurrence, but have always been part of our mission: to provide trained and ready forces to the commander, U.S. Pacific Command and as the world situation dictates, to other supported combatant commanders. More than 11,000 USARPAC soldiers and civilians are on duty outside the Pacific region fighting the war on terrorism or ensuring stability. Combined efforts of active and reserve component soldiers and civilians from across the Army in the Pacific are accomplishing a lot of heavy lifting.

Company B, 193rd Aviation, an Aviation maintenance company from the Hawaii Army National Guard, mobilized, trained and deployed in August 2003 as one of our first units to engage in operations in Afghanistan. Task Force 1-501, formed around the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, deployed from Alaska in October 2003 for duty in Afghanistan. Company A, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation, a UH-60 helicopter company from the Alaska Army National Guard, arrived in Kosovo in February 2004 to help maintain the peace in the Balkans. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the 25th Infantry Division deployed to Iraq in January 2004 to serve as part of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) team in some of the toughest parts of that country. Company C, 193rd Aviation, a CH-47 helicopter company from the Hawaii Army National Guard, and the 411th Engineers, a heavy construction engineer Battalion from the Army Reserve in Hawaii, Guam, Alaska and American Samoa, both departed in March 2004 for duty in Iraq. Company C, 84th Engineers, a heavy engineer company from Alaska, has left a lasting legacy by executing reconstruction projects for the people of Iraq. The remainder of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) under Maj. Gen. Rick Olson deployed to Afghanistan in April 2004 to assume duties as the combined joint task force headquarters and to provide the major fighting elements of the CJTF. Additional USARPAC reserve and active duty units remain postured or are in postmobilization training to continue their mission.

USARPAC soldiers and civilians are also deploying to global war on terrorism battlefields in the Pacific. Since December 2002, soldiers from the 10th Area Support Group, U.S. Army Japan, with help from the 9th Theater Support Command (Army Reserve), Fort Belvoir, Va., have been operating the intermediate staging base (ISB) at Kadena Airbase on Okinawa, supporting Special Operations Command-Pacific (SOCPAC) Enduring Freedom operations in the Philippines (OEF-P). As of June 2004, this small detachment of soldiers staged and moved 5,400 short tons of cargo, and 7,000 personnel aboard 620 aircraft. In addition, USARPAC soldiers with logistics, intelligence and communications specialties are augmenting the OEF-P staff on Mindanao in the Philippines. The Republic of the Philippines has enjoyed relative stability in a region previously rife with terrorism. The people of the Philippines are resolute in defeating terrorism. The slackening grip of Abu Sayaf terrorists in Mindanao demonstrates that resolve. Our soldiers and civilians, alongside the armed forces of the Philippines, are winning this fight against terrorism, but there is more work to do.

Success in the Philippines and elsewhere is due in no small measure to our superb reserve component soldiers. Readying these soldiers for active duty is a tough mission that begins in earnest upon reporting to mobilization stations. The 1101st and 1102nd Garrison Support Units (GSUs) provide the impetus for operating a mobilization station. In the Pacific there are two stations: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and Fort Richardson, Alaska. Over the past year, 83 percent (58 of 70) of the company-size or larger RC units in USARPAC have been called to active duty in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Kosovo Force. This is nearly continuous work for GSUs and for the mobilization stations, which also serve themselves as home to active component units that are deploying to combat. Together with realistic training support from Fort Shafter's (Hawaii) 196th Infantry Brigade, our Pacific Army reserve component soldiers and their units are well prepared for the hostile environments found on global war on terrorism battlefields.

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Pacific Army soldiers and civilians have been executing homeland defense missions. Now, as a main effort of Operation Noble Eagle, the USARPAC headquarters serves as the combatant commander's military coordinator, working together with the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, local, state and federal agencies to safeguard against a terrorist attack and to respond to any natural disaster. Soldiers man quick reaction forces to respond to threats to our homeland, in Hawaii, Alaska and on the west coast of the continental United States. On May 17, 2004, the USPACOM commander expanded those responsibilities to include Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas and select island nations under the Compact of Free Association-a total area significantly larger than the entire continental United States.

As Pacific Army soldiers do their part in the global war on terrorism, they continue to execute other essential tasks in the Pacific. We are increasing our engagement with Pacific armies. It simply does not work to say to our regional partners, "We're really busy right now, but we'll get back to you in a couple of years." As part of the USPACOM theater security cooperation program (TSCP), we engage Pacific nations through a variety of events and exercises and foster mutual security cooperation. Events such as U.S. Army Japan's North Wind and Yama Sakura exercises, Balikatan in the Philippines and the multilateral Cobra Gold exercise conducted in Thailand are vital elements of the program which also includes a host of professional and technical exchanges and humanitarian and disaster preparedness projects. It is all about credibility with regional partners who look to us for shared experiences and growth. Our soldiers and civilians are the foundation of that credibility. They are preempting future conflict by setting the conditions for security cooperation now and in the future.

TSCP is a proven program. It is not a coincidence that many of our Asia-Pacific partners are making significant contributions to the efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea and Australia have underscored their commitment by putting their most precious resource-their young men and women in uniform-on the ground to give liberty and freedom a chance in Southwest Asia. Nine additional Asia-Pacific nations are currently supporting with various resources. These are tangible dividends of a relevant, adaptive TSCP. Most important, we know this trend frightens the terrorist more than all other circumstances: a group of nations standing shoulder to shoulder firmly and resolutely in his path.

Our communities watch in awe as our great soldiers and civilians defend freedom and liberty across the world and enhance security across the Asia-Pacific region, while they simultaneously transform formations and rewrite fundamentals of employment. Transforming the force and converting to a modular Army now is likened by a corporate leader in the Pacific to changing a tire while driving. Our communities see units such as the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade in Alaska, that, in the midst of Transformation, has sent soldiers to train with the Indian army at the Indian counterinsurgency and jungle warfare school, while continuing to conduct operations in support of Operation Noble Eagle defending the homeland. Our soldiers and civilians serve in supercharged units that are multitasking in support of disparate missions-heavy lifting.

Pacific Army soldiers are writing the book for our new Stryker formations. Four of the first five Stryker brigade combat teams will be based in the Pacific. Fort Lewis, Wash., is home to SBCTs 1 and 2 (3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division [2ID] and 1st Brigade, 25ID respectively). These two transformed units were forged by fire on global war on terrorism battlefields, performing magnificently. SBCTs 3 and 5 (172nd Separate Infantry Brigade, U.S. Army Alaska and 2nd Brigade, 25ID respectively) will likewise be ready to fight. The 172nd is scheduled to complete its transformation in May 2005. Tropic Lightning soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 25ID, will redeploy from combat in Iraq, reset and immediately begin fielding new equipment in October 2005.

As we modularize the Army into deployable and lethal units of action, Pacific Army soldiers and civilians are poised to execute change. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25ID, will redeploy from Afghanistan, reset and then immediately begin the conversion process to an Infantry unit of action in the summer of 2005. Our leaders are setting the conditions now for future unit and headquarters conversions in Alaska, Japan and Hawaii.

The Army's new formations are an important element of the USPACOM commander's Asia-Pacific defense strategy. To enhance our expeditionary capabilities, Pacific Army transportation soldiers are bringing the Army's new highspeed vessel on board to provide rapid intratheater movement. Soldiers and civilians in this vast theater have a firm appreciation for what it takes to have an expeditionary mind-set.

Pacific Army soldiers and civilians know that although they are essential to providing relevant and ready landpower to the USPACOM commander, they defend freedom anywhere. Pacific Army leaders at all levels know that the centerpiece of our formations and our efforts to modernize and modularize the force is the soldier-our best combat system and our best ambassador of freedom and liberty. All know the stakes are high as we prosecute the global war on terrorism, remain engaged with our regional partners and execute challenging changes to keep our Army the best fighting force ever known. They know they are making a huge difference as part of One Team!

By Lt. Gen. James L. Campbell*

Commanding General,

U.S. Army Pacific

*As we go to press, Lt. Gen. James L. Campbell has been assigned as Director of the Army Staff, and Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III has succeeded him as commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific.

LT. GEN. JAMES E. CAMPBEEE assumed command of U.S. Army Pacific in November 2002 after serving as the commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Eight Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. Upon completion of the ROTC Program at the University of Missouri, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry. He commanded companies in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp casey Korea, and 15th Battalion, 4th Combat Support Training Brigade, Fort Jackson, S.C. He also served as the commander, 4th Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry); and Joint Task-Force Full Accounting, Camp Smith, Hawaii. Additional assignments included assistant division commander (support) and assistant division commander (operations) for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii; executive officer to the Chief of Staff, Army; deputy chief of staff for I Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash.; and G-3, 9th Infantry Division (Motorized), Fort Lewis, Wash. Gen. Campbell has a master's degree in physical education from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. His military education includes the Infantry officer basic and advanced courses; Airborne, Jumpmaster and Air Assault schools; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and the Naval War College.

Copyright Association of the United States Army Oct 2004
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