The United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) is an Army Service Component Command which serves as the Army service component for United States Indo-Pacific Command.[1] It may also serve as a Joint Task Force headquarters. The command has forces in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, and South Korea. It also performs missions in Southeast Asia, in the countries stretching from the Philippines all the way to Bangladesh and India. United States Forces Korea (USFK) has had operational command and control of US Forces in Korea since January 2012, and USARPAC headquarters oversees the manning, training, and equipping of US Army forces assigned to USFK.[2]
However, subordinate units of this command sometimes perform humanitarian missions in places such as Haiti, Cuba, and the Middle East.
History
USARPAC traces its lineage back to 1898 when the United States became a major power in the Pacific. In 1921 Fort Shafter became the headquarters for the Hawaiian Department. When the United States entered World War II, the Hawaiian Department became subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas.
History of designations
Throughout its history the command was designated:
US Army Forces, Central Pacific Area (1943–44)
US Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (1944–69)
US Army Forces, Middle Pacific (1945–47)
US Army, Pacific (1947–1974)
US Army Western Command (1979–1990)
United States Army Pacific (1990–present)
Historical summary
During the Korean War, USARPAC provided combat forces, training, and logistics.
During the Vietnam War, the command provided the same support to United States Army Vietnam. After the war the Army cut its presence in the region as there was no longer a need for such a large number of combat forces in the Pacific. Subsequently, USARPAC was eliminated as a component command and Army forces in Korea and Japan became separate major commands. In Hawaii, USARPAC headquarters was superseded by US Army Support Command Hawaii (USASCH) and a Department of the Army field operating agency, US Army CINCPAC Support Group.
In 1979 the Army established US Army Western Command (WESTCOM) as a major command and the Army component of US Pacific Command. WESTCOM took command of Army forces in Hawaii. In 1989 it added United States Army Alaska[3] and in 1990 United States Army, Japan. In 1990 WESTCOM was renamed USARPAC. USARPAC has sent forces on multiple humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and defense support of civil authorities.
In October 2000 the headquarters reorganized as a multi-component Army service component command.
Since 9/11, the command plays a major role in the homeland defense of the United States. The command has also sent soldiers in support of the Global War on Terrorism to fill operational gaps.
The command insignia was designed in 1944. It depicts the axis of advance of U.S. forces across the pacific.
Commander's responsibilities
Responsible to SECARMY for execution of 10 USC § 3013(b) responsibilities
Admins and supports army units assigned or attached to United States Indo-Pacific Command
Reports to the Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command
Current structure
US Army Pacific active component in 2021 (Click graphic to enlarge) For organization of major subordinate commands: see Eighth Army and I Corps
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