350th Civil Affairs Command
In October 1999 the 361st Civil Affairs Brigade officially become the 350th Civil Affairs Command. This redesignation made the Pensacola headquarters unit one of only four Civil Affairs Commands in the United States. This redesignation made the Pensacola headquarters unit one of only four Civil Affairs Commands in the United States.
The 350th has over 1,100 personnel under its command, mostly Army reservists whose civilian expertise is needed to support military efforts abroad. The 350th is part of the U.S. Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command at Fort Bragg. Civil affairs soldiers are the Army's experts on working with civilian authorities and setting up civilian governments in the wake of wars and natural disasters. The command was created to support US Southern Command. The 350th CAC deployed soldiers to 19 different countries in 1998. The activation ceremony created the fourth civil affairs command in the U.S. Army. Each civil affairs command is responsible for supporting and advising a four-star general or admiral who is in charge of one of the U.S. military's five geographic regions around the world. The newly created command absorbed responsibility for the Caribbean region as a result of the transfer of regional responsibility from U.S. Atlantic Command to U.S. Southern Command.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 6 Oct 1999. Purple and white are the colors traditionally used by Civil Affairs units. The mountains or land area is divided by the light blue stylized wave symbolizing the Caribbean and the organization's home area and theater of operations. The rope annulet ties the two areas together symbolizing unity and constancy. The sword and olive branch represent conflict and peacetime operations highlighting the Command's mission.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved 6 Oct 1999. Purple and white are the colors traditionally used by Civil Affairs units. The mountains or land area is divided by the light blue scroll symbolizing the Caribbean and the organization's home area and theater of operations. The rope annulet ties the two areas together symbolizing unity and constancy. The sword and olive branch represent conflict and peacetime operations highlighting the Command's mission.
