528th Sustainment Brigade (United States)

Last updated

528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne)
528 Spt Bn DUI.png
528th Sustainment Brigade's Distinctive Unit Insignia
Active1 November 1995 – present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Special Operations Support
Role528th SBSO(A)'s mission is to ensure sustainment, signal, military intelligence, and combat health service support Army special operations forces (ARSOF) around the globe.
SizeBrigade
Part of SpecialForces Badge.svg 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)
Garrison/HQ Fort Liberty, North Carolina
Nickname(s)Sentinels
Motto(s)"We Support to the Utmost"
Decorations
Streamer VUA Army.PNG Valorous Unit Award Streamer MUC Army.PNG Meritorious Unit Commendation
Website Official website
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Andrew Lynch
Insignia
Brigade beret flash
US Army 528th Support Battalion Flash.png
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) shoulder sleeve insignia, worn by all subordinate units [1]
United States Army Special Forces SSI (1958-2015).png
Former combat service identification badges
528th Sustainment Bde CSIB.png

The 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne), 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A), or 528th SB (SO) (A) was activated on 16 December 2008, as part of the overall United States Army Special Operations Forces logistics transformation. The brigade replaced the Special Operations Support Command (Airborne) (SOSCOM) as combat service support and combat health support unit for all Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) units under the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (1st SFC). [2]

Contents

Per the U.S. Army Field Manual No. 4-0, the 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) sets operational support conditions in order to enable Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) operations. Key tasks include providing tailored logistics management, limited aerial delivery, unique ARSOF surgical capability, signal, military intelligence and command and control of assigned, adjacent, and mission aligned elements. The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) is organic to the operational employment of the 1st SFC (two-star operational HQ) and is considered part of the deployed force structure when an ARSOF led special operations JTF is employed. Serve as the lead component for support for 1st SFC with respect to conducting ARSOF logistics, medical, communications and military intelligence operations. The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) primary purpose of fulfilling global operational requirements of emerging requirements. [3]

Doctrinal Mission

The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) is designed to support special operations forces. It is a unique Army sustainment brigade because it maintains global situational awareness of deployed Army special operations forces logistics support structures. The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) sets the operational-level logistics conditions in order to enable Army special operations forces missions. It is assigned to United States (U.S.) Army 1st SFC and focuses on operational to tactical sustainment support. During periods where only special operations forces are operating in a theater, support may be executed under the 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A). ATP 3-05.40, Special Operations Sustainment, provides more details on special operations sustainment. [4]

When deployed, the 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) acts as the logistics headquarters for a joint special operations task force. The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) integrates Army special operations forces support requirements into the Army Service component command support plan and ensures a timely response to Army special operations forces requirements. The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) may also control a CSSB in support of a conventional force expansion in the theater of operation until relieved by a conventional sustainment brigade. [4]

Organizational Evolution

The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) and its subordinate battalions trace their lineage to WWII, but have taken various forms since that conflict. This section presents the organizational structure of select ARSOF support units over the past 75 years:[ citation needed ]

-1942 First Special Service Force (FSSF)
-1944 512th Airborne Signal Company
-1987 1st SOCOM
-1990 U.S. Special Forces Command
-1993 U.S. Army Special Operations Command
-2002 Special Operations Support Command
-2020 528th Sustainment Brigade

Organizational structure

The 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) consists of a brigade staff, a support operations unit, and three battalions: the Special Troops Battalion, the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion, and the 389th Military Intelligence Battalion. [2] [5]

Special Troops Battalion

An ARST conducts jungle extraction training with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), circa 2013 SORT conduct jungle extraction with 10th SFG.jpg
An ARST conducts jungle extraction training with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), circa 2013
US Army 528th Support Battalion Flash.png 528 Spt Bn DUI.png
US Army 197th Special Troops Support Company Beret Flash.png

The Special Troops Battalion (formerly known as the 528th Support Battalion (A)) provides rapidly deployable combat service support and health service support to ARSOF and consists of a headquarters company with an organic rigger detachment, a special operations medical detachment with four Austere Resuscitative Surgical Teams (ARSTs)—formally known as Special Operations Resuscitation Teams (SORTs) [6] [7] —the 197th Special Troops Support Company from the Texas Army National Guard, and 1/528th Forward Support Company from the West Virginia Army National Guard. [2] [8]

112th Special Operations Signal Battalion

A Sergeant from the 112th Signal discusses the Special Operations Forces Deployable Node Light Kit with an instructor at Fort Gordon, 2013 US Army Special Operations Forces Deployable Node Light Kit.jpg
A Sergeant from the 112th Signal discusses the Special Operations Forces Deployable Node Light Kit with an instructor at Fort Gordon, 2013
US Army 112th SIG BN Flash.svg 112 Sig Bn DUI.png

The 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (A) is the Army’s only special operation airborne signal unit. The 112th specializes in advanced communication while employing and developing innovative telecommunications technologies to provide both Army and Joint special operations task force commanders with secure and nonsecure voice, data and video services. The 112th's signals expertise allows ARSOF to "shoot, move and communicate" on a continuous basis. Signals soldiers assigned to 112th are airborne qualified and are taught to operate and maintain a vast array of unique and specialized communications equipment not normally used by their conventional counterparts. To meet the needs of ARSOF and SOCOM, the 112th can be deployable on a moment's notice with an authorized strength of five companies: a headquarters company, a Theater Signal Support Company with six geographically focused signal support detachments, and three general signal companies. [2] [9]

389th Military Intelligence Battalion

US Army SFC MI BN Flash.png US Army 389th MI Bn (ABN) DUI.png

The 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (SO) (A) "conducts command and control of multi-disciplined intelligence operations in support of the 1st SFC, component subordinate units, and mission partners." On order, it deploys and conducts intelligence operations as part of a special operations joint task force leveraging the capabilities of its three organic companies: a headquarters company; an Analytical Support Company with a cytological support element and five geographically aligned regional support teams; a Mission Support Company with a Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) detachment, a HUMINT and GEOINT detachment, and operations the Special Warfare SIGINT Course for the ARSOF community; and an additional PED detachment stationed at Fort Gordon. [10] [11]

From 2015 to mid-2019, the unit operated under the ad hoc name of 1st Special Forces Command Military Intelligence Battalion (A). To avoid being assigned the 'next available' number, the Department of the Army Force Management, U.S. Army Center of Military History, and USASOC History Office worked with battalion leadership to determine a unit designation that reflected a legacy of military intelligence support to ARSOF and carried forth the wartime honors of a past military intelligence unit. In July 2019, the 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (A) was activated and provides 1st SFC with a deployable, operational-level intelligence capability with the motto "Illuminate to Action!". [10]

Support Operations

US Army 528th Support Battalion Flash.png 528 Spt Bn DUI.png

Support Operations embed in each regional theaters' staff to support planning and coordination with theater Army, Special Operations Command and Army Special Operations Command to ensure support during operations and training. As a theater Army staff member, these officers and non-commissioned officers' knowledge of theater-specific requirements and capabilities assist units in coordination with the theater. [2] Support Operations consists of four detachments: current operations which manages five geographically aligned ARSOF liaison elements, a future operations detachment, a commodity managers detachment, and an ARSOF support operations element. [2] [12]

Brigade organizational charts
528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade Organizational Chart 2020.jpg
528th Special Troops Battalion Organizational Chart 2020.jpg
528th - 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion Organizational Chart 2020.jpg
528th - 389th MI Battalion Organizational Chart 2020.jpg
528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade Support Operations Organizational Chart 2020.jpg

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XVIII Airborne Corps</span> One of four active corps of the U.S. Army, currently part of U.S. Army Forces Command

The XVIII Airborne Corps is a corps of the United States Army that has been in existence since 1942 and saw extensive service during World War II. The corps is designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world and is referred to as "America's Contingency Corps." Its headquarters are at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

United States special operations forces (SOF) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force within the US military, as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Special Operations Command</span> Army component of the U.S. Special Operations Command

The United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) (USASOC ( YOO-sə-sok)) is the command charged with overseeing the various special operations forces of the United States Army. Headquartered at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, it is the largest component of the United States Special Operations Command. It is an Army Service Component Command. Its mission is to organize, train, educate, man, equip, fund, administer, mobilize, deploy and sustain Army special operations forces to successfully conduct worldwide special operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eighth Army (United States)</span> Only Field Army of the U.S. Army stationed in South Korea

The Eighth Army is a U.S. field army which commands all United States Army forces in South Korea. It is headquartered at the Camp Humphreys in the Anjeong-ri of Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Eighth Army relocated its headquarters from Yongsan to Camp Humphreys in the summer of 2017. It is the only field army in the U.S. Army. It is responsible to United States Forces Korea and United States Army, Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Army National Guard</span> Component of the US Army and military of the U.S. state of Texas

The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">528th Support Battalion (United States)</span> Military unit

The 528th Support Battalion is a battalion of the United States Army. The 528th Support Battalion's mission is to provide rapidly deployable CSS and HSS to ARSOF as directed. The 528th Support Battalion's strengths lie in its capability to support ARSOF-unique and low-density weapons and vehicles. The 528th complements [organic] 22 ARSOF CSS, HSS, and signal units. The support battalion consists of a headquarters and main support company (HMSC), three forward support companies and may receive augmentation from Theater Army. As part of Army Special Operations Command the unit, along with the 112th Signal Battalion, is tasked to provide full logistical support to Army Special Operations Forces forming along with several other units what was known as Special Operations Support Command, later reorganized as the 528th Sustainment Brigade (A). The Brigade Troops Battalion includes a wide variety of military occupation specialists: riggers, drivers, medics, mechanics, engineers, fuelers, cooks, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States military beret flash</span>

In the United States (US) military, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">82nd Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade is a sustainment brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. It provides logistical support to and is part of 82nd Airborne Division.

The 25th Signal Battalion is a strategic signal battalion (SSB) of the United States Army. The battalion is one of two permanently assigned to the 160th Signal Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spetsnaz GRU</span> Russian and Soviet special forces unit

Spetsnaz GRU, formally known as Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, is the special forces (spetsnaz) of the GRU, the foreign military intelligence agency of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)</span> Military unit

The 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)(formerly: 143rd Transportation Command), is one of seven general officer sustainment commands in the United States Army Reserve. It has command and control of more than 10,000 Army Reserve Soldiers throughout the southeastern United States in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. It is made up of more than 100 Army Reserve units whose missions are diverse and logistical in nature. The mission of the 143rd ESC is to provide command and control of sustainment forces and to conduct sustainment, deployment, redeployment and retrograde operations in support of U.S. and multinational forces. The mission of the 143rd when not deployed is to ensure readiness of the soldiers under its command and control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">97th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)</span> Military unit

The 97th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) is a civil affairs battalion of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It is a member of the only active duty Special Operations Civil Affairs unit in the United States Department of Defense. The concept for a Civil Affairs brigade had been under consideration for years, but was finally approved as a result of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">101st Sustainment Brigade</span> Military unit

The 101st Division Sustainment Brigade is a sustainment brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Campbell providing logistical support to the 101st Airborne Division. Formerly a separate unit under the command of United States Army Forces Command, it became a division sustainment brigade in 2015 and adopted the wear of the division SSI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade</span> Military unit

The 71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (EMIB) is a unit of the Texas Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">112th Special Operations Signal Battalion</span> Military unit

The 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne) is part of the 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne) and specializes in supporting United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade</span> Military unit

The 525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) is a unit of the United States Army specializing in the acquisition and analysis of information with potential military value. On 28 October 2014, the unit was reflagged from the "525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade" to an expeditionary military intelligence brigade, the first of its kind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)</span> Division-sized component of US Army Special Operations Command

The 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) is a division-level special operations forces command within the United States Army Special Operations Command. The command was first established in 1989 and reorganized in 2014 grouping together the Army Special Forces (a.k.a. "the Green Berets"), psychological operations, civil affairs, and support troops into a single organization operating out of its headquarters at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">389th Military Intelligence Battalion</span> US Army special forces support unit

The 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne) is the United States Army's intelligence support battalion to 1st Special Forces Command. It is headquartered at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. It was originally known as the 1st Special Forces Command Military Intelligence Battalion.

References

  1. ↑ 528th Sustainment Brigade (SO) (A) Patch Change Ceremony, Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, by SGT Vance Williamson, dated 5 April 2017, last accessed 9 July 2019
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 528th Sustainment Brigade, Special Operations (Airborne) Archived 20 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine , soc.mil, last accessed 13 December 2020
  3. ↑ Department of the Army. "Field Manual No. 4-0 31 July 2019" (PDF). pp. Para 2-154. Retrieved 8 December 2020.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. 1 2 Army Techniques Publication. "ATP 4-93.1 Combat Sustainment Support Battalion" (PDF). pp. 1-5 Para 1-28.
  5. ↑ 528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade Organizational Chart 2020, 528th Sustainment Brigade History Handbook Published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office Fort Bragg, North Carolina 2020, by Chris Howard ARSOF Support Historian, dated 5 December 2020, last accessed 12 December 2020
  6. ↑ The Special Operations Resuscitation Team: Robust Role II Medical Support for Today's SOF Environment; Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 9, Edition 1, Winter 09; by Jamie Riesberg, MD; last accessed 13 December 2020
  7. ↑ The Special Operations Resuscitation Team: Robust Role II Medical Support for Today's SOF Environment, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Volume 9 / Edition 1 / Winter 2009, by Jamie Riesberg (MD), last accessed 22 October 2016
  8. ↑ 528th Sustainment Brigade Special Troops Battalion Organizational Chart 2020, 528th Sustainment Brigade History Handbook Published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office Fort Bragg, North Carolina 2020, by Chris Howard ARSOF Support Historian, dated 5 December 2020, last accessed 12 December 2020
  9. ↑ 528th Sustainment Brigade - 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion Organizational Chart 2020, 528th Sustainment Brigade History Handbook Published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office Fort Bragg, North Carolina 2020, by Chris Howard ARSOF Support Historian, dated 5 December 2020, last accessed 12 December 2020
  10. 1 2 FROM LEYTE TO THE LEVANT, A Brief History of the 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne), USASOC's Office of the Command Historian, by Christopher E. Howard, dated 2019, last accessed 27 December 2020
  11. ↑ 528th Sustainment Brigade - 389th MI Battalion Organizational Chart 2020, 528th Sustainment Brigade History Handbook Published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office Fort Bragg, North Carolina 2020, by Chris Howard ARSOF Support Historian, dated 5 December 2020, last accessed 12 December 2020
  12. ↑ 528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade Support Operations Organizational Chart 2020, 528th Sustainment Brigade History Handbook Published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office Fort Bragg, North Carolina 2020, by Chris Howard ARSOF Support Historian, dated 5 December 2020, last accessed 12 December 2020
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.