9th Theater Support Command
The 9th TSC missions include planning and directing combat service support throughout the Pacific Command Theater of operations and providing general support to units in the theater. It performs rear area operations within assigned areas and provides the nucleus for major regional logistics support. While some members of the 9th TSC are present in Japan, most train on the East Coast of the United States. The same Commanding General leads both USARJ and the 9th TSC, providing a unity of command and focus for U.S. Army activities in Japan.
Currently over 34,200 short tons of Army war reserve sustainment stocks are stored at Sagami Depot valued in excess of $200,000,000. These critical items of supplies and equipment can be released not only in wartime, but also for use in regional contingencies or humanitarian assistance as required. The prepositioning of critical supplies here in Japan saves about 22 days of "steaming time" by a ship, a valuable savings during times of crisis. With current ammunition stocks on mainland Japan, USARJ & 9th TSC also have the capability to supply one combat load of selected weapons for a light infantry division in support of contingencies. Stocks can also support allies and other services in Japan.
USARJ & 9th TSC ensure care of supplies in storage (COSIS) on one heavy-lift prepositioned ship afloat located at Diego Garcia. Until 1990, that was a mission to ensure COSIS on several ships berthed at Diego Garcia. USARJ & 9th TSC continue to maintain the capability to perform this expanded mission, retaining the facilities and skilled military and civilian workforce to do so. USAR & 9th TSC have dispatched over 900 short tons of humanitarian assistance shipments with a value in excess of $7 million. Sixteen shipments have been sent to nine nations including Mongolia, Cambodia and Rwanda.
The AC/RC integration concept developed by USARJ/9th TAACOM and 310th TAACOM in 1996 called for alignment of the 310th TAACOM to the 9th TAACOM with the eventual reorganization as a single multi-component TSC, split-stationed at Camp Zama and Fort Belvoir, VA. Since that time, the integration of the two units followed three distinct parallel axes: plans, force structure, and training.
The Army is redesignating Theater Army Area Commands as Theater Support Commands. The change in Army doctrine provides more focus in the battlefield to theater logistics with one logistics command responsible for all logistics.
The last Theater Army Area Command went away in October 2000 as U.S. Army Japan reorganized and activated a multi-composition unit formed mostly of reservists. The 9th Theater Support Command, activated 14 October 2000, consists of about 40 active-duty soldiers at Camp Zama, Japan, and 400 Army Reserve troops at Fort Belvoir, Va., located 9,000 miles and 14 hours away. The senior logistics headquarters in the Army Reserve, the 53-year-old 310th Theater Support Command, cased its colors and merged with the 40-year-old 9th Theater Army Area Command - the Army's last TAACOM. They formed the new 9th Theater Support Command with headquarters in Japan, but the bulk of its people in Virginia.
The new unit is the latest multi-component active-reserve unit. The merger gave 9th TSC the manpower to carry out its mission, logistics support of the Army's Pacific Command. The merger was part of the continuing trend to combine active Army and Army Reserve units to support the Army's worldwide commitments, and to take continuing advantage of the skills and experience reservists can bring to active-duty units. The idea of the multi-component unit is to give active army units additional resources to accomplish the mission. For reservists, the merger means they will be able to focus their time and training on real-world missions, and to know where they fit and what they'll be doing in the event of mobilization.
The move to a TSC delineates the mission differences between U.S. Army Japan and the 9th TSC. The intent now is when you say 'USARJ', you stop there -- it's either USARJ, or the 9th TSC. They are two distinct and separate organizations. The USARJ focus continues to be to provide defense of the island of Japan, and bilateral engagements with the JGSDF, there is no change in that mission. Some USARJ soldiers are dual missioned as being assigned to the TSC and work on the USARJ staff. While not actively involved in the transition to the TSC, they nonetheless are an important part of the overall organization. There will be training periods that could take away from the dual missioned soldiers. That will undoubtedly impact on the USARJ staff especially if the soldiers are deployed away from Japan. USARJ continues to serve as the Army Component Command to U.S. Forces Japan, to support bilateral and unilateral operational planning, training, regional contingencies, and requests for humanitarian assistance.
The 9th TSC harnesses support and logistics resources in Japan to a force halfway around the world, in support of the entire Pacific Theater. It's commanding general is located at Camp Zama, along with the 9th TSC Early Entry Module. The EEM consists of nearly a dozen active reservists, and just under 30 dual-hatted members of USARJ. The realignment gives U.S. Army Pacific a logistical support headquarters that is worldwide deployable with a focus on the Pacific Command area of responsibility
Along with the regular active-duty 9th TSC soldiers in Japan, the Army Reserve has about 15 Active Guard and Reserve, or AGR, soldiers at Camp Zama, making up the core of an advance party element for mobilizations called the "early entry module." A basic concept in the organization of a Theater Support Command is the use of modular teams, customized to missions as they arise. The EEM has a similar function, to represent the command on a new site or mission and to put assets in place to accommodate cells or teams that follow to carry out the mission.
The majority of the 9th TSC members are traditional, drilling Reservists who train one weekend per month and perform a week-long period of Annual Training every year. Fort Belvoir is also home to a contingent of full time, AGR soldiers who keep the 9th TSC running from day to day. Frequent training in Japan by those members of the 9th TSC who usually work and train at Fort Belvoir assures their understanding of Japan and the units here with which they must work for mission accomplishment. The 9th TSC must stay ready for missions that range from "operations other than war" to major regional conflicts that they must accomplish at different levels of mobilization.
The 9th TSC adopted John S. Mosby, a Confederate States of America officer for whom their Reserve Center is named, as an inspiration. Leading his Rangers, Mosby is renowned for his actions to disrupt Union operations in Northern Virginia during the United States Civil War. As effective logisticians, the 9th TSC overcomes challenges that might disrupt the flow of men and materiel into a theater and onward to the battlefield. The historic figure of John S. Mosby is a reminder of potential adversity and obstacles they must remain ever ready to overcome.
The 9th TSC motto is "Victory Through Support _ Anytime, Anywhere." That thought symbolizes its commitment to move swiftly, anywhere in the world, organized to meet its multiple logistics support missions. Its vision is that of a modular, expandable and adaptable combat service support command and control headquarters that can integrate the strategic and operational levels of logistics support.
The optimal mix of active, AGR and traditional Reserve soldiers found in both USARJ and 9th TSC are the start of efficiently staffed units, but the contributions for success come from several other sources. To sustain their peacetime programs and readiness for contingencies, both units require Department of the Army Civilians, and Japanese national employees. Fifteen percent of the workforce is Department of the Army Civilians. The largest portion, though, at 57%, is the Japanese national component. This dedicated group provides much of the continuity needed for the now more than fifty years of working in Japan. In addition to the largely Reserve 9th TSC, USARJ also has a large number of Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), soldiers who train every year with the USARJ staff, and who are available to supplement the USARJ headquarters staff during contingencies, crises or wartime.
Together with Headquarters, United States Army, Japan, 9th TAACOM provide U.S. Army forward presence in Japan. 9th TAACOM provides command and control of assigned combat support/combat service support (CS/CSS) forces, and conducts operations with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) for the defense of Japan. United States Army, Japan presently comprises a headquarters and the 9th Theater Army Area Command which includes two major subordinate commands; (10th Area Support Group, Okinawa, and 17th Area Support Group, Honshu); plus other assigned, attached and tenant units and activities. Headquarters, United States Army, Japan is at Camp Zama, Japan, collocated with Headquarters 9th Theater Army Area Command and Headquarters, 17th Area Support Group. Headquarters, 10th Area Support Group is located at Torii Station, Okinawa.
9th TAACOM provides onward movement coordination with host nation, coordinating the capability to receive, stage, supply, and onward move United States Army forces deploying to or through its area of responsibility (AOR). It provides echelon above corps (EAC) combat service support in those areas of the TAACOM AOR. During peacetime, 9th TAACOM coordinates wartime planning and training for all assigned and war trace units. It also logistically supports United States Pacific Command Forces in regional contingencies.
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th TAACOM was activated on 9 December 1994 at Camp Zama, Japan. When IX Corps was deactivated, the 9th Theater Army Area Command was activated in its place in Japan. 9th TAACOM's lineage stems from Headquarters 9th Logistical Command, first constituted on 3 May 1960 and activated on Okinawa on 10 May 1960. It was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 9th Logistical Command on 15 March 1961. At the request of the Royal Thai Government, the unit deployed to Thailand in May 1962, providing assistance in civil construction projects and later becoming the logistical support element for Joint Task Force 116 to counter the growing conflict in the Southeast Asia area. Later, with the inactivation of the joint task force, the 9th Logistical Command remained in Thailand with the mission of storing and maintaining pre-positioned stocks, conducting people to people civic action programs, and maintaining an in-country communications base. The command was inactivated in Thailand on 12 June 1970.
The 10th Area Support Group (ASG) at Torii Station is responsible for providing logistical support throughout the island. The 10th ASG commander serves as a member of the Okinawa Area Coordination Committee, which is responsible for coordinating political and military matters on Okinawa. The 10th ASG has been a five-time winner of the ACOE competition. In addition, the Army community on Okinawa hosted more than 100 returning World War II veterans in 1995. Activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa were held at battle sites throughout the Ryukyu Islands. Population served: 900 soldiers, 120 DA civilians, 735 local national employees, and 1,200 family members. Size: 489 acres, with almost a mile of beachfront property.
The 17th Area Support Group provides administrative and logistical support for all Army organizations and activities in Japan. It supports the 9th TAACOM's deployment, reception, staging, onward movement, and integration of US and allied forces. It maintains Army War Reserve stocks, conducts COSIS, and provides quality logistics, services, and facility support in the Pacific Theater. Camp Zama won the 1995 and 1996 ACOE award for small overseas installations. Population served: 8,000 (including military, civilians, family members and retirees). Size: 2,266 acres (main base and 10 sub-installations).
