OFFICE OF ARMY RESERVE HISTORY

 

 

 

 

 

POST 9/11

Since Sept. 11, 2001, America’s Warrior-Citizens have brought their unique skills and capabilities to Contingency and Theater Security Cooperation missions around the world in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.

9/11

9/11

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and deliberately crashed passenger jets into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Another hijacked passenger jet crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In the first war of the 21st century, Army Reserve Soldiers served on the front lines. Nine were among the nearly 3,000 killed in New York, and Army Reserve Soldiers and units, responding in their civilian capacities, were among the first on the scene, supporting rescue and recovery operations and securing federal facilities across the Nation.

The 77th Regional Support Command in New York, New York, commanded by then-Brig. Gen. Richard S. Colt, led the Army Reserve’s response to the World Trade Center attacks. The command identified and quickly delivered support items to aid in the disaster recovery effort and assisted rescue workers at Ground Zero.

Army Reserve emergency preparedness liaison officers in the New York City area responded promptly and were vital to the rescue and recovery operation. Soldiers of the Army Reserve’s 311th Quartermaster Company (Mortuary Affairs) from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, deployed volunteers to the Pentagon within 72 hours and set up operations in the north parking lot of the Pentagon. The men and women of the 311th had the grim task of searching through tons of debris for remains and personal effects.

Iraq

IRAQ

In the winter of 2002 and the spring of 2003, Army Reserve units mobilized in support of combat operations in Iraq. Largely from combat service support or logistics units, these Warrior-Citizens operated ports, hauled fuel, repaired equipment, and supported the theater across a broad spectrum of operations. Combat support units such as military police battalions, engineer bridge companies, Civil Affairs detachments, and psychological operations mobilized and met vital requirements.

Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN 

The ground war began in Afghanistan on Oct. 19, 2001. From the beginning, Army Reserve Soldiers served alongside Active Component Soldiers. Army Reserve public affairs Soldiers went into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Anaconda.

The 911th Forward Surgical Team supported the 10thMountain Division during medical assistance missions. The 310th Psychological Operations Battalion served in the isolated mountain regions determining the needs of the people and organizing the delivery of food, bottled water, and medical aid.

In 2002, the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion served with U.S. Army Special Forces throughout Afghanistan conducting humanitarian assistance operations. The 489th also rehabilitated critical infrastructure such as basic healthcare clinics, hospitals, food distribution centers, and supported civil authorities by advising Afghan government officials.

Pictured top: Twin Towers aftermath. Portions of the outer shell of the North Tower lean against the remains of the World Trade Center. The terrorist attack on Sept.11, 2001, caused the Twin Towers to collapse, and the rest of the complex was destroyed. Middle: The attack on Sept. 11, 2001, caused extensive damage to the west face of the Pentagon. Agents from several federal agencies, firefighters, rescue workers, and engineers set up command posts in the parking lot and began recovery, and search and rescue efforts. Bottom: Soldiers from the 362nd Quartermaster Battalion (Petroleum Supply) Kinston, N.C., conduct a tanker-to-tanker transfer at a forward operating base east of Fallujah, Iraq.

Immediate Response Authority

The Army Reserve maintains substantial capabilities vital to disaster response and stands ready to support state and federal agencies for domestic emergencies and disaster relief efforts under new authority that allows for the Service Reserve Components to assist U.S. citizens and communities during domestic emergencies to save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate great property damage.

Since 2001, more than 300,000 Army Reserve Soldiers have been mobilized and routinely deployed across the globe, to include every major combat zone. Steady demand for Army Reserve capabilities has introduced a new paradigm of reliance on the Army Reserve as a critical part of our national security architecture. As an enduring operational force, the Army Reserve remains a premier force provider of America’s Citizen Soldiers for planned and emerging missions at home and abroad.

Many firefighters serving in the Army Reserve also serve their communities as firefighters in their civilian career. Firefighters maintain similar skill sets in the Army Reserve, responsible for protecting lives and property from fire by controlling fires and helping prevent them in buildings, aircrafts and ships. They perform firefighting and rescue operations, administer first aid, and respond to hazardous material emergencies rescuing personnel and caring for the injured.

CONFRONTING A NEW AGE OF THREATS

The digital age has created a new threat challenge, and the Army Reserve stands ready to respond. At the Army Space Command,Army Reserve Soldiers conduct research and development projects in support of homeland defense.

The Army is the Defense Department’s largest user of space-based systems. To support combat operations, the Army deploys a multitude of communication receivers providing communications, navigation, intelligence,surveillance and reconnaissance, missile warning and weather/environmental monitoring.

The U.S. Army Reserve Element-Defense Information Systems Agency supports a variety of missions, including protecting and defending essential elements of the Global Information Grid, ensuring its availability, integrity, authenticity and confidentiality. USARE-DISA provides operational support for a number of signal missions. The unit has several detachments located throughout the U.S. and has mobilized in support of operations around the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

Preparing for the unthinkable is part of the job for Soldiers assigned to 302nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, who recently participated in disaster response training and are capable of responding to a multitude of chemical, biological, or nuclear incidents.

The three-day event simulated a nuclear explosion on U.S. soil and gave Soldiers training on how to properly react in a supporting role with the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and statewide agencies. In the event of a domestic attack, natural disaster or industrial incident, members of the 300th Chemical Company are specialized in searching for and extracting trapped and injured victims. Since 9/11, Soldiers of the 300th have focused on responding to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) events in the homeland.