21st Theater Support Command (TSC)
The 21st Theater Army Area Command has changed its name to the 21st Theater Support Command [TSC].
21st Theater Support Command provides trained and ready forces to conduct theater-level deployment and redeployment support for a contingency force in support of EUCOM and JCS-directed regional military objectives, or in support of NATO and UN military objectives; theater-level sustainment including military industrial operations, materiel distribution, split-based operations, and deployable logistics force packages; reception, staging, onward movement and integration activities; and force reconstitution as required. It operates at the operational level of combat service support with links to the strategic and tactical levels.
Inheriting a distinguished tradition of combat service support, the lineage and honors of 21st Theater Support Command began 23 June 1965 with the activation of the 1st Support Brigade. A maintenance support headquarters under Seventh Army Support Command, the brigade's first home as Taylor Barracks, Mannheim. After the United States military withdrawal from France in 1967 and the organization of the U.S. Theater Army Support Command, Europe, informally known as TASCOM, the brigade became the rear area counterpart of the newly formed corps support commands.
Assigned to TASCOM in 1969, 1st Support Brigade was responsible for Prepositioning of Materiel Configured to Unit Sets (POMCUS) and provided combat service support for U.S. units in the area west of the Rhein River.
In 1974, TASCOM was merged with Headquarters, United States Army, Europe, and the missions of 1st Support Brigade were expanded to include base operations support for eight military communities as well as the management of regional area support. The brigade was upgraded to a general officer command and the headquarters moved to Panzer Kaseme, Kaiserslautem.
By mid-1976 the 1st Support Brigade's personnel strength was approximately 16,000 - the largest brigade in the U.S. Army. Consequently, the Department of the Army approved the elevation of the commander's position to Major General and on 19 August 1976 the brigade was redesignated 21st Support Command.
During the next several years, important missions and units were assigned to the 21st and, in June 1981, the President of the United States elevated the commander's position to Lieutenant General, reflecting the organization's status as a Theater Army Area Command. Accordingly, on 18 October 1988, 21st Support Command was officially redesignated the 21st Theater Army Area Command.
After the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, U.S. forces in Europe began a reduction in personnel to accompany the reduced threat. Authorizations for both military and civilian positions were decreased substantially and, in 1993, the grade of the 21st TAACOM commander was returned to Major General.
Throughout this evolution the 21st has retained the lineage and honors, distinguishing flag (colors), and distinctive unit badge and shoulder sleeve insignia of the "FIRST IN SUPPORT!"
21st TSC deployment related responsibilities include:
- Providing movement management services and highway traffic regulation in coordination with ODCSOPS to coordinate movements into, within, and out of theater for all modes of transport (air, sea, rail, inland waterway, and military/commercial line haul).
- Receiving theater movement priorities from USAREUR MOC, ODCSOPS. Calling units forward through movement directives based on USAREUR ODCSOPS priorities.
- Establishing, maintaining, and on order activating the USAREUR Deployment Processing Center (DPC) at Rhine Ordnance Barracks.
- Being prepared to provide a deployable DPC capability to other APOE that are activated.
- Establishing, as required, Air Support Centers for self-deploying aircraft.
- Coordinating the establishment of life support activities in support of Port Support Activities (PSAs) activated at SPOEs.
- Establishing and operating Convoy Support Centers (CSC) in coordination with the HN along MSRs to POEs and/or contingency areas. Reporting mission locations through 1st TMCA.
- Supervising, documenting, and augmenting rail support operations, if necessary.
- Serving as USAREUR executive agent for Host Nation support. Coordinating with all applicable host nation countries for transportation to include HAZMAT, customs and agriculture.
- Coordinating or contracting as required for transportation support from unit home station to POE.
- Serving as lead USAREUR agent for arranging/providing technical and diplomatic clearances.
- On order, receiving ASGs OPCON for conduct of deployment support operations within capability.
- Providing or coordinating life support for deployment support sites.
- Providing emergency maintenance support at POEs.
- In coordination with USAREUR DCSLOG and Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineer (DCSEN), ensuring availability of BBPCT materials.
- In coordination with ASGs, establishing and operating required deployment support sites.
- Providing force protection and transportation security as required.
- Providing intransit visibility (ITV) of forces, associated equipment and sustainment cargo through the use of RF Tags, RF Tag Interrogators, Automated Manifest System (AMS) cards, Optical Memory Cards (OMC), and commercial tracking means.
- Providing containers to units for deployment.
The HQ, 21st TSC (Prov) is a multi-component unit with an AC Commander and is organized with AC and USAR soldiers.. The HQ is located in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Integration of USAR soldiers directly into the ranks of the TSC is accomplished with USAR elements in both the Continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS). The home station of the 21st TSC (DET) is Kaiserslautern, Germany and the home station for the 21st TSC (Prov) (CONUS) is Indianapolis, IN.
USAREUR will reorganize headquarters functions on 01 October 2002 as part of the Army's worldwide effort to centralize installation management. Directed by the Secretary of the Army to streamline how the service does business, Transformation of Installation Management establishes seven regional headquarters - four in the United States and three outside the Continental United States - to assume responsibility for all base operations at Army installations. TIM is designed to gain efficiencies in base operation support, enhance standardization of services across installations and allow tactical commanders to focus on their core responsibilities of training and readiness. No changes in functions, structure or manpower will occur in tactical units, area support groups or base support battalions with the establishment of the TIM regional headquarters. There will also be no change in the current active-duty military strength in Europe of 62,000 soldiers. Instead, the new organizational structure will be created from existing positions at Hq., USAREUR and will take on those missions currently performed at the headquarters related to base operations support. A process action team, formed from members of the USAREUR headquarters staff, worked numerous details to ensure the new organization is properly staffed, funded and organized. USAREUR officials also briefed the Head Works Council on the initiative to keep them apprised of potential changes involved with this new organization. USAREUR has been cited as a model for the TIM concept, based on its existing ASG and BSB structure. USAREUR has also been a leader in the establishment of quality of life standards, so the goals of TIM are really nothing new to the command.
