361st Civil Affairs Brigade
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.
The 361st Civil Affairs Brigade was inactivated during late 2000. On March 30, 2000 the Department of the Army released its list of fiscal year 2000 Reserve Component (RC) unit inactivations and force structure changes. These changes were principally the result of the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review recommendations to reduce 20,000 RC personnel by fiscal year 2000, in addition to force structure decisions that support Army wartime requirements. The selection criteria used to determine unit inactivations include the ability of a unit to meet future readiness requirements in the following areas: deployability, recruiting, retention, facility support, training, geographic locations, and personnel issues.
As part of the "Total Force" concept, the Guard and Reserve are indispensable to U.S. military operations. When the US decided to commit forces to Bosnia in December, 1995, it was recognized that strong support from Reserve Components would be required. Throughout 1996, over 8,000 Guard and Reserve personnel supported Operation Joint Endeavor from bases in Bosnia, Croatia, the U.S., Hungary, Germany, Italy and elsewhere in Europe. In October 1996 eleven Reserve Component units as well as selected individuals were notified to begin preparation for mobilization to support Operation Joint Endeavor. Approximately 500 personnel were involved. Ten U.S. Army Reserve units are being notified as of Oct. 25, 1996, with a projected mobilization date of Nov. 10, 1996: -361st Civil Affairs Brigade, Pensacola, FL -411th Civil Affairs Battalion, Danbury, CT -413th Civil Affairs Battalion, Lubbock, TX -431st Civil Affairs Battalion, Little Rock, AR -443rd Civil Affairs Battalion, Warwick, RI -478th Civil Affairs Battalion, Perrine, FL -486th Civil Affairs Battalion, Broken Arrow, OK -353rd Civil Affairs Command, Bronx, NY -304th Civil Affairs Battalion, Philadelphia, PA -404th Civil Affairs Battalion, Ford Dix, NJ. The entire 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, comprises troops from North Little Rock, AR, Broken Arrow, OK, Miami FL and Lubbock TX. They replaced the 352nd Civil Affairs Brigade out of Maryland. The unit's jobs involve aiding the restoration of the government, helping civilians and communicating with NATO peace-keepers. Basically, the troops assisted the return of normal existence to a country ripped apart by more than three years of ethnic wars. The unit returned home in the summer of 1997.
The 361st Civil Affairs Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 6 Jan 1977. On a purple shield arced at top and bottom, edged with a white border, at center a blue wavy band fimbriated white and bearing a yellow sunburst. The sunburst is symbolic of authority, enlightenment and wisdom. The sun represents Florida, the "Sunshine State" with blue area representing the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean alluding to the present location of the organization. Purple and white are colors used for Civil Affairs units.
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 6 Jan 1977. A gold color metal and enamel device consisting of an orange enamel demi-sun burst with gold rays above four purple enamel wavy bars with gold fimbriation, in base a semi-circular gold scroll, folded back at each end and lined purple, inscribed "SECURE PEACE" in purple letters, overall a vertical sword with white enamel blade with purple enamel grip in front of motto scroll between "SECURE" and "PEACE." The upright sword alludes to the unit's mission to protect and secure peace. The sun is symbolic of authority, enlightenment and wisdom. The sun also represents the organization's present location in Florida, the Sunshine State, while the wavy bars represent the waters around Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Purple and white are colors used for Civil Affairs units.
