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The best things about soldiering in the Asia-Pacific region are the scope and diversity of today’s challenges. Whether donning a parachute in Alaska as part of a joint task force unit en route to seize a Southeast Asian exercise objective; providing specially tailored support to a multinational peace-keeping operation in Dili, East Timor; or participating in a cold weather exercise with units of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in Hokkaido, Japan, troops in U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) stay engaged conducting a wide spectrum of training, operation and contingency plan tasks.
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Approximately 37,000 highly trained U.S. soldiers constitute the backbone of U.S. Army Pacific.
Official U.S. Army Photo |
Our Army located in this region is around 37,000 strong, configured into deployable C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) modules, forward-based and deployable logistical enabling forces, ready-to-go initial entry forces, and follow-on formations tailored to valid mission requirements throughout the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) area of responsibility, which spans 16 time zones and over half the world’s surface, from the west coast of the Americas to the east coast of Africa.
Today’s changing requirements for U.S. Army forces in the Asia-Pacific region mirror readiness requirements for the U.S. Army of tomorrow. USARPAC’s operational focus begins with staying prepared to deploy and fight successfully in support of national security interests in the region; or, moving just as quickly to add unique value in some form of regional advancement of security and peaceful development – in most cases as part of a combined, joint force.
USARPAC’s regional engagement may be the more demanding readiness and resource challenge. It has the potential to provide the most beneficial return on the U.S. Army’s investment in long-term contributions to U.S. national security interests and future Asia-Pacific regional stability. This requirement involves stationing soldiers from both active and reserve components in Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, and Fort Lewis, Washington. These soldiers set an example of professional competence and values that counterpart Army troops see as worthy of note and emulation. If peacetime engagement is, as we believe, the most economical and successful form of deterrence today, then USARPAC soldiers are truly high-value added assets.
USARPAC has three types of forces postured and ready for employment in the Asia-Pacific region or throughout the world. These forces include:
• Forward-stationed, enabling forces in Japan, primarily logistical in nature and structured to establish intermediate staging bases and open logistical hubs for selected combat, peace support, or disaster-relief forces deploying in response to contingencies in the Asia-Pacific region;
• Forward-based combat and support forces, consisting of tailorable, initial entry forces, rapidly deployable with modular, sustainment packages, from Hawaii and Alaska, as well as follow-on forces stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and other continental U.S. locations, and
• Any other Army forces entering the Asia-Pacific region from the continental U.S. or throughout the world.
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Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) assume combat positions after being transported by a UH-60 helicopter to a LIGHTNING THRUST training area at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Official U.S. Army Photo |
Unit Capabilities
USARPAC units perform critical missions in the region. They are postured to promote security, deter regional aggression, and if deterrence fails, to fight and win. Army units provide USCINCPAC a wide range of military capabilities and skill sets to employ throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
I Corps HQ. USCINCPAC has designated I Corps Headquarters as one of its primary Contingency Joint Task Forces (CJTF) under the Two-Tiered Command and Control concept for contingency operations. Under this concept, I Corps could be designated as the CJTF headquarters to exercise operational control of other service-provided forces during crises within USCINCPAC’s AOR.
25th Inf. Div. (L). The 25th Infantry Division (Light) has the majority of its forces stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with one infantry brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington. The division’s fighting core is made up of nine light infantry battalions, highly trained in day and night combat operations, rapidly deployable and offensively oriented. The division also packs a lethal anti-armor punch with its Dragon and TOW anti-tank missiles and OH-58D helicopters. Organic fire support and air defense are provided by 105mm and 155mm artillery and Avenger air defense weapon systems. The 25th Inf. Div. (L) provides initial entry or follow-on forces to any USARPAC-provided JTF Army Forces.
172nd Sep. Inf. Bde. The 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade, U.S. Army Alaska, has three light infantry battalions with similar combat capabilities to those that exist in the Hawaii units. This brigade is able to conduct independent operations, and its airborne battalion provides USCINCPAC with a limited airborne forcible entry capability. Because of its location and unique training environment, these soldiers are the U.S. Army’s premiere cold-weather specialists.
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