Military

4th Force Service Support Group

The mission of the 4th Force Service Support Group is to provide general and direct support and sustained combat service support above the organic capabilities of support elements of MAGTF's. These supported units may be in garrison, combat, and/or in separate locations. The FSSG will support the Marine Air Ground Task Force in the amphibious assault and subsequent operations ashore.

On Feb. 1, 1966, Headquarters, 4th Force Service Regiment was activated at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Midland, Texas. During January 1968 the headquarters relocated to the Marine Reserve Training Center in Midland, Texas. During January 1968 the headquarters relocated to the Marine Reserve Training Center, Orlando, Fla. The headquarters again relocated to the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center, Atlanta, Ga. during 1971. In May 1976, the unit was redesignated the 4th Force Service Support Group, FMF (4th FSSG). In January 1987, the headquarters relocated to Marietta, Ga. The flag of the 4th FSSG was moved to its present site in New Orleans in February 1992.

The Marines and sailors of 4th Force Service Support Group provide critical support needed to keep the Marine Forces Reserve Units fully combat operational. 4th FSSG's mission is to provide individuals and units to augment, reinforce and provide operational tempo relief to combat service support units of the active component as well as Marine Forces Reserve.

The group units participated in numerous exercises this past year, conducting tasks ranging from construction to combat support. Their varied skills were put to the test during Artic Care, which took place in Alaska, as the Marines and sailors provided medical and dental health assistance to local Eskimo communities, as well as constructed shelters for fuel tanks. Also, during Exercise New Horizons 2001, Marines and sailors utilized four 17-day deployments to construct a health clinic in the small mountain village of La Lima, Honduras.

Other exercises they supported include Cobra Gold, Thailand; Rolling Thunder, North Carolina; Combined Arms Exercise 7-8, Twentynine Palms, Ca.; 14th Marine Regiment Fire Exercise, Minnesota; and Cornerstone 2001 in Albania.

Marines and sailors of 4th FSSG supported 49 major operations and exercises, and countless augmentations to active component FSSGs in 2001. Warfighters in all five regional commander-in-chiefs throughout the world were aided by our patriotic leathernecks and sailors. During these exercises, the Marines and sailors provided support via: power, fuel, vehicles, food rations, repairs, and medical and dental care, which ensured the units they supported were able to maintain a constant state of readiness in any climate or environment.