U.S. Army Forces Command, 1973-2003: Three decades of readiness in peace and war

Since its creation 30 years ago, our nation's civilian and military leaders have turned to U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) to provide trained and ready soldiers.

Whenever crises have arisen where solutions demanded ground forces, FORSCOM has executed the Army's responsibility by ensuring the timely deployment of soldiers and equipment. Even the terrorist attacks of September 2001 did not deflect its purpose; rather, FORSCOM's soldiers and units brought a renewed intensity to their familiar roles of performing homeland defense, providing military support to civil authorities and conducting combat operations. In short, to comprehend FORSCOM's many activities is to illustrate how the Army has served and defended our nation every single day from the Vietnam era to the present operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

FORSCOM, the Army's-and Department of Defense's-largest major command, headquartered in the southern suburbs of Atlanta at Fort McPherson, Ga., is the ground force provider for two combatant commands. Today it consists of more than 750,000 active Army, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers stationed throughout the continental United States. In support of U.S. Joint Forces Command, FORSCOM trains, mobilizes, deploys, sustains and reconstitutes combat-ready forces from the active and reserve components to meet requirements of combatant commanders across the full spectrum of military operations worldwide. At home, FORSCOM conducts homeland defense operations as the Joint Forces Land Component Command for Northern Command.

FORSCOM has been serving the nation since its succession from Continental Army Command on July 1, 1973, as part of Operation Steadfast, a reorganization of Army commands that also witnessed the birth of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. FORSCOM's inception signaled the renewal of the Army's commitment to providing highly trained volunteer forces to meet a variety of worldwide requirements. The frequent mobilization of FORSCOM soldiers and units commenced almost immediately.

FORSCOM's experience with military support to civil authorities operations began in the spring of 1975 when it was deeply involved in operations surrounding the support of the Vietnamese refugees in Operation New Life in Guam and Task Force New Arrivals in the continental United States. When a severe earthquake hit Guatemala in February 1976, FORSCOM coordinated the deployment of 24 units, including a field hospital and engineer assets, to help the country recover. During the winters of 1977 and 1978, FORSCOM units provided support to a number of snowbound communities, including task forces that assisted residents in digging out in Buffalo, N.Y.; Toledo, Ohio; and areas of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. When in May 1980 the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted, FORSCOM's 9th Infantry Division was deeply involved in the rescue and clean-up operations.

In recent years FORSCOM soldiers have continued to aid victims of floods, fires, storms and other natural disasters. For example, in 1989 active duty and reserve component soldiers deployed in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in South Carolina, and in 1992 helped clean up the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew when it struck southern Florida. Weather extremes during the summer of 2001 necessitated several different kinds of FORSCOM responses. A substantial number of active duty soldiers deployed to fight wildfires in several western states while Army National Guard helicopters and equipment assisted flood victims in West Virginia. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, FORSCOM has also acted to confront man-made problems such as the illicit drug trade. In close cooperation with law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Customs Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency and state police forces, FORSCOM units shared intelligence and trained civilian personnel on the use and employment of Army equipment. Since September 2001 FORSCOM has stepped up its border control activities at the request of the nation's leaders, immediately bringing greater control to numerous entry points. Other FORSCOM units deployed to establish security at critical sites throughout the nation.

FORSCOM's focus has not been solely on these domestic support operations. It has retained attention to the preparation and deployment of combat forces overseas to conduct military operations. In October 1983 FORSCOM units participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. From December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990, FORSCOM provided some 11,420 military personnel in support of Operation Just Cause in Panama. Then, on August 7, 1990, in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, FORSCOM mobilized and deployed combat forces to Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Shield. FORSCOM's battle staff began 24-hour operations on August 6, 1990, and quickly orchestrated a massive movement of troops. By September 30, 1990, there were about 74,000 FORSCOM soldiers-active and reserve component-serving in Southwest Asia. By the end of February 1991, 236,000 active component personnel had deployed to Saudi Arabia. Some 1,031 reserve component units had been mobilized with 689 being sent to Southwest Asia, and 39 deployed to Europe to replace deployed units. After Operation Desert Storm, FORSCOM swiftly completed the major task of redeployment to the United States. But the suspension of hostilities in Kuwait did not mean that FORSCOM paused.

In addition to re-initiating a full collective training program highlighted by battalion rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center, FORSCOM units were also needed to meet new challenges.

In December 1992, the United States sought to alleviate the humanitarian crisis under way in Somalia and began Operation Restore Hope under United Nations authority. FORSCOM deployed troops to safeguard and distribute supplies. This operation and its follow-on, Continue Hope, proceeded in 1993 with some 10,000 FORSCOM troops taking part. While this effort was winding down, FORSCOM provided troops and supplies to Haiti, again under U.N. auspices, to alleviate the politico-economic collapse of that country. These efforts became Operations Maintain Democracy and Uphold Democracy.

A deployment of FORSCOM forces that endures today began in 1995 in support of U.S. efforts to establish and maintain peace in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Active duty FORSCOM units have served as peacekeepers in Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard in the new countries of Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia. Recently, the Army National Guard assumed the U.S. lead in the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia with elements of the 49th Armored Division. In 2002, Task Force Keystone, composed primarily of soldiers from the 28th Division, performed their duties in SFOR magnificently. The 35th Division is now performing that mission, and the 34th Division is forecasted to replace them in the autumn. In Kosovo this summer, the First Infantry Division, which is now performing the KFOR mission, will be succeeded by the 28th Division. Likewise in the Sinai, Army National Guard units are serving with distinction. There, the 45th Infantry Brigade will pass the guidon to the 34th Division this year.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, FORSCOM provided immediate humanitarian and security support to civilian authorities first in New York City and Washington, D.C., and subsequently throughout the United States as part of Operation Noble Eagle. Since that time, FORSCOM has orchestrated the largest mobilization of reserve component forces since the Korean War for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Over 170,000 soldiers have been mobilized since the terrorist attacks and as of April, about 150,000 men and women from the reserve components remain on active duty.

In support of this mobilization, FORSCOM's 15 power projection platforms and 12 power support platforms have been at the forefront, deploying trained forces from both active and reserve components. On the active duty side, Forts Stewart, Drum, Hood, Campbell and Bragg have deployed large contingents of soldiers while reserve component mobilization surges have occurred at Forts Benning, Dix and a host of mobilization sites nationwide, such as Camp Atterbury, Ind., and Fort McCoy, Wis. Even as these mobilizations have progressed, FORSCOM staff and commanders have initiated planning for the eventual demobilization and reconstitution of units at these installations in anticipation of a transition from combat to stability and support activities.

While performing all of these missions in support of ongoing operations, FORSCOM is simultaneously working to prepare for the future. As new security challenges emerge-both at home and abroad-FORSCOM must stay ready to provide forces suited for a full range of situations. From providing disaster relief, to fighting terrorists groups, to defeating conventional armies, FORSCOM will continue to fulfill the Army' s fundamental purpose of defending the nation. As our federal government maintains an active posture regarding homeland security, FORSCOM will stay ready to meet the requirements of combatant commanders by training, mobilizing and deploying Army units and soldiers.

The success FORSCOM soldiers have enjoyed over three decades is a testament to the strength and importance of the Army itself. Today, the sun never sets on FORSCOM's soldiers. Deployed worldwide, FORSCOM's men and women are ready. Proud of their heritage as professional soldiers and confident in their skills, equipment and leaders, they continue the Army's ethic of service. Like their forebears who for 228 years have guarded the United States, FORSCOM's soldiers every day reflect on the sanctity of our nation and its ideals, and resolve: "This We'll Defend."

GEN. LARRY R. ELLIS assumed command of U.S. Army Forces Command on November 19, 2001, following his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Department of the Army. Gen. Ellis has served in the United States, Vietnam, Germany, the Republic of Korea and Bosnia and Herzegovina. His command assignments include 1st Armored Division, Germany; Multinational Division (North), Bosnia and Herzegovina; assistant division commander, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; brigade commander, 3rd Infantry Division, Germany; battalion commander, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Polk, La.; company commander, 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam; and 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Copyright Association of the United States Army Jun 2003
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