Army Reserve Soldiers, Civilians and Families of the Pinellas Park, Florida-based Army Reserve Medical Command, celebrated the 20th anniversary with a heartfelt and reflective commemoration that brought together current and former leaders, distinguished guests and partner commands to honor two decades of exceptional service, innovation and commitment to Army medical readiness during a dining-out ceremony held at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park hotel here, April 12, 2025.

Founded in 2005 in response to the post-9/11 need for a more robust and agile reserve medical force, AR-MEDCOM has grown into the Army Reserve’s premier medical command.

“This celebration is more than a milestone,” said Col. Angela Hinds, AR-MEDCOM’s current chief of staff. “It’s a recognition of the people—past and present—who have shaped this command and ensured our ability to provide world-class care under any condition.”

The commemorative event featured speeches from several key figures, including Maj. Gen. Michael Yost, the current commanding general of AR-MEDCOM, and retired Maj. Gen. David Herbst, who served as the command’s first commanding general.

Yost said that with a legacy built on resilience, transformation, and unwavering dedication, the command has played a vital role in supporting operations ranging from the global war on terror and pandemic response efforts to preparing for near-peer combat scenarios.

Reflecting on the command’s founding, Herbst spoke about the vision that brought AR- MEDCOM to life. “If you're going to make a change, you've got to have five things: a deep need for change, a vision, a plan, the right organization and the right personnel,” he said.

The creation of AR-MEDCOM was to mirror the structure of the active component, filling critical gaps in deployment capabilities and medical readiness within the Army Reserve, Herbst said.

Over the years, the command has continually adapted to meet evolving threats and operational demands, implementing new technologies, training regimens and organizational models to improve care and efficiency, said Herbst.

“This command is about relationships,” said Hinds. “It’s all about the relationships we build to provide the best care to those in need, whether it’s a global war on terror, training exercises in Europe, pandemic operations or large-scale combat preparation.”

Representatives from partner commands—the Salt Lake City, Utah-based 807th Theater Medical Command and the Gillem Enclave, Georgia-based 3rd Theater Medical Command—also praised AR-MEDCOM’s collaborative spirit and essential role within the Army medical enterprise. Together, these commands form a network of medical support that spans continents and missions.