18th Soldier Support Group
[18th Finance Group / 18th Personnel Group (Airborne)]
The XVIII Soldier Support Group (Airborne) maintains a Soldier Support Group as part of the Crisis Response Force manned and trained to deploy rapidly by air, sea and land anywhere in the world. Provide personnel and finance service support to units and soldiers located within the XVIII Airborne Corps area of operations.
Finance Services maintains a Soldier Support Group as part of the Crisis Response Force manned and trained to deploy rapidly by air, sea and land anywhere in the world. Provide financial service support to units and soldiers located within the XVIII Airborne Corps' area of operations.
Personnel Services maintains a Soldier Support Group as part of the Crisis Response Force manned and trained to deploy rapidly by air, sea and land anywhere in the world. Provide personnel service support to units and soldiers located within the XVIII Airborne Corps area of operations.
Retirement Services administers the Army Retirement Services Program for Fort Bragg. Serves as the initial contact point to provide information and counseling on benefits and entitlements to active duty enlisted soldiers, senior officers, and non-commissioned officers contemplating retirement and continue to support them as retirees. Provides counseling and guidance to retirees and family members seeking information on the Survivor Benefit Plan (SRB); benefits and entitlements and assistance concerning their military personal affairs.
In early 1998 the CG of FORSCOM approved a request from the CG, XVIII Airborne to: combine the 18th Finance Group and the 18th Personnel Group (Airborne); to establish a provisional 18th Soldier Support Group (18th SSG) at Ft. Hood; to form SSBs at Forts Stewart, Drum and Campbell; and, to combine the two remaining Finance Battalions at Ft. Bragg. The General Officer Steering Committee (GOSC) did not support the XVIII consolidations as proposed. This decision was made without the benefit of the TRADOC force development process which was Phase 2 of the Service to the Soldier Study. It was not a forgone conclusion that SSBs and SSGs will be implemented Army-Wide. FORSCOM and XVIII Airborne Corps were forging ahead of the Soldier Support Institute study as it was expedient to do so due to the impending draw downs.
The insignia was authorized on 19 April 1988, consisting of a round shield charged with a Roman soldier dressed for battle facing right between on each side, an olive branch with nine leaves and above the Roman numerals XVIII. Attached at top a silver gray scroll inscribed "DRACONIS" and attached at bottom a silver gray scroll inscribed "THESAURUS" all in gold letters. Silver gray and golden yellow/gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Finance Corps. The design is adapted from the ancient Roman coin of Maxentius and alludes to the requirement, throughout history, for adequate and effective financial support of military operations. The soldier, dressed for battle, manifests the military nature and function of the unit. The olive branches serve as a reminder that effective and adequate financial support of military operations is essential in times of peace as well as in time of war. The date on the device, XVIII, serves to remind that the Group was formed to serve with the U. S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps. The scroll represents the ever present need for accountability. The numerical designation of the organization is represented by the eighteen olive leaves and the Roman numerals in base. The motto, "Draconis Thesaurus," is Latin for Dragon's Treasure. That phrase accurately describes the unit's niche within the XVIII Airborne Corps (Sky Dragons). The Group supports the Corps by providing full financial services during both peace and war. The relatively small Finance Group uses its unique resource (treasure) to make a large contribution through locally purchased goods and services.
