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Eighth Army reorganized as component command

Sgt. David E. Gillespie

SEOUL, Korea, (Army News Service, March 16, 1998) -- The Eighth U.S. Army became the newest service component command for the commander in chief UNC/CFC/USFK during a reorganization-retreat ceremony March 13, at Yongsan Garrison's Knight Field.

The new Army Service Component Command -- placed within the Ground Component Command -- joins the Air Force, Navy, Special Operations, and Marine Corps Component Commands to give the CINC UNC/CFC/USFK more options and capabilities during armistice and all phases of a campaign plan.

As the Army war fighting headquarters for the Korean peninsula, ASCC will present the CINC a set of relevant and complementary capabilities. This presentation will allow the CINC to consider all options available and to tailor campaign plans to best meet the military objective of the mission.

The mission of the new ASCC is three-fold. First, it is the Army's supporting force. In this capacity, the ASCC organizes, equips, trains, maintains, and supports the Army and other forces under the "Common Items of Support" requirement. Secondly, it serves as an Army combat force. In this role, the ASCC employs Army forces, selects forces and advises on the use of the Army. Thirdly, the service component commander establishes linkage to the joint war fighting commander and takes specified part in the Unified Armed Action Force and the Unified Command Plans.

"The Army has seen many changes in the post-war years," said Lt. Gen. Randolph House, commander of the new ASCC. And if it is to remain the dominant land force in the 21st Century, it must be able to offer options for the employment of forces to the combatant commander.

"We must change to remain the dominant land force in the 21st Century," House said. "The expansion of our mission, functions and responsibilities reflects the Army's overarching defense strategy to shape the strategic environment, respond to the full spectrum of threats, and prepare for the dangers of tomorrow."

To respond to the full spectrum of threats during wartime, this capabilities-based, threat-adaptive organization will provide forces to the Combined Forces Command and conduct logistical support to assigned, attached and other designated forces to support deterrence on the Korean peninsula.

Providing full-spectrum dominance requires command and control, said Col. Mark Gerner, EUSA chief of force development. "In the past, EUSA was primarily concerned about management functions and force-provision functions like logistics," Gerner said. "The change has now shifted the focus to that of command and control."

The heart of the design is operational command and control, Gerner said. "Applying lessons from the Gulf War and Korean War, the Army began to re-tool the required capabilities for command and control at echelons above corps. It includes capabilities for management and force provision functions as well as capabilities that perform operational functions."

In Korea, as part of the CFC coalition, ASCC has been assigned combat functions that require immediate readiness. Conditions demand that in-place forces are ready to respond and perform at a moment's notice. Should conditions demand the deployment or employment of U.S. Army forces, the CINC will do so through the Army component commander in Korea.

Although the situation on the peninsula and the role of U.S. forces on the mainland of Asia are dynamic issues that will change over time, there will always be a need for U.S. presence, Gerner said. "The presence will include the command and control of U.S. forces delivering an element of regional stability, which is part of our national strategy and part of the strategy and plan within the services."

Moving into the 21st Century, combat operations will require highly responsive forces in order to be effective during wartime. As such, ASCC responsibilities will expand to include reception, staging, onward movement and integration; fires; supplying and sustaining; force protection, movement and maneuver; command and control; and joint interface.

"RSOI is the key to overall campaign success," House said. "It is a huge job for the ASCC but we are ready. We accept the challenge of the new organization and we will remain ever vigilant and ready in keeping with the traditions of the Eighth Army.

"The team I stand before today is ready to face any challenge -- today and tomorrow. We are poised and ready to assume our new roles and responsibilities. The leaders and soldiers standing before you today are ready to fight and win if deterrence fails."

(Editor's note: Gillespie is with the U.S. Forces Korea public affairs office and is editor of KORUS Magazine.