MISSION
The specific mission of the 143d ESC is to provide an expeditionary presence for the Theater Sustainment Command; command and control units; provide logistical planning and support operations; and provide trained and ready combat service support forces capable of supporting the full spectrum of logistics operations.
The 143d ESC provides trained and ready Army Reserve Soldiers and units with Army values, warrior ethos and the critical combat service support capabilities necessary to support the nation’s strategy during peacetime, contingencies and war, both at home and worldwide. With a focus that covers the full spectrum of logistics, the mission statements of subordinate commands and units vary widely depending on each unit’s specific area of combat service support responsibilities.
To achieve these objectives, the command relies heavily on its training programs, readiness initiatives and integrating family support into unit activities.
The specific wartime and peacetime missions are as follows:
Wartime Mission
On order, the 143d ESC mobilizes and deploys to establish theater level transportation systems and aerial and sea ports of debarkation and inland motor and rail operations. It also provides common user transportation support services throughout the theater of operations.
Peacetime Mission
The 143d ESC provides command and control for assigned or attached subordinate units. It is responsible for the readiness, training, personnel administration and deployability of subordinate units. The 143d ESC mission is broken down into several primary areas of responsibility—reception, staging, and onward movement—all which to ensure an incremental build-up of combat power proceeds according to the combatant commander’s plans.
VISION
The 143d ESC provides a trained and ready sustainment force that is a significant operational enabler for America’s Army.
The unit’s command philosophy are:
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Create a balanced command climate that empower Soldiers; that exhibits care for its soldiers and families; and that fosters retention in the Army Reserve.
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Build a fundamentally sound organization that is rooted in three basics acts: caring, maintenance and training.
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Develop an expeditionary sustainment command in which training readiness is the focal point with emphasis on wartime missions – preparing the headquarters and all subordinate units to support the war fighters so that they can win in battle.
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Build an organization that is characterized by Soldiers and NCOs who understand their mission, and whose love for their job is illustrated by their intensity in carrying it out.
HISTORY
The 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (ESC) was constituted as a brigade on November 24, 1967 in the United States Army Reserve and activated in Orlando, Florida. The 143d became a Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) on October 1, 1985 and was the Army Reserve's only echelon-above-Corps Transportation Command and Control headquarters.
From December 2001 through December 2006, the 143d Transportation Command (Forward) maintained a continuous presence in Kuwait in support of U.S. military units engaged in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Responsible for the ports of debarkation and embarkation and theater Common User Land Transportation (CULT), the unit performed admirably while deployed.
On 17 September 2007, the 143d TRANSCOM cased its command colors for the last time signifying the end of the unit's era as a major transportation command headquarters. Immediately following, the new Commanding General, Brigadier General Daniel Schultz, uncased the colors for the 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), the first ESC in the United States Army Reserve.
On 9 January 2009, the 143d ESC deployed in support of the surge in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. The 143d's deployment to Afghanistan was its first deployment as an ESC. The 143d operated as the Joint Sustainment Command- Afghanistan (JSC-A) from February through December 2009.
On June 2013, the 143d ESC deployed its headquarters again, this time to Kuwait and Afghanistan, supporting the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations and serving as the senior operational sustainment headquarters in Kuwait until May 2014.
The most recent deployment for the 143d ESC was 22 February 2018, to Kuwait as the Operational Command Post for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command in support of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations returning in January 2019.
The 143d ESC has command and control of more than 8,200 Soldiers assigned to 90 units, located throughout ten states, primarily in the Southeastern United States.