43rd Sustainment Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 43rd Sustainment Brigade


caption=43rd Sustainment Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1966-present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch= U.S. Army
type=
role= Command & Control of Support & Sustainment units
size= Brigade
command_structure=FORSCOM
garrison=Fort Carson
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=Rough Riders
patron=
motto=Provide with Pride
colors=Red & Buff
colors_label=
march=
mascot="Liberty" the White Buffalo
battles=
anniversaries= 25 March 1966, Unit Activation Day
decorations= Meritorious Unit Commendation "Southwest Asia"
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) for Operation Sea Signal
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operation Sea Signal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) for Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom

battle_honours=Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
current_commander=Colonel Edward M. Daly
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=The 43rd Sustainment Brigade is a U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) combat service support unit stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. The Brigade motto is "Provide with Pride". The Brigade call sign is "Rough Riders". The 43d Sustainment Brigade has deployed overseas to Somalia, Cuba, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Lineage

*Constituted 18 January 1966 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d General Support Group
*Activated 25 March 1966 at Fort Carson, Colorado
*Redesignated 1 December 1970 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Support Group
*Redesignated 1973 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Corps Support Group
*Redesignated 16 April 1994 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Area Support Group
*Reorganized as a Sustainment Brigade in July, 2008

Organization

The 43d Sustainment Brigade is currently assigned directly to FORSCOM. Subordinate elements of the 43d are:

*68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB)
** Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 68th CSSB
** 32nd Transportation Company
*** 1st Platoon, 2nd Transportation Company
** 59th Quartermaster Company
** 60th Ordnance Company
** 183rd Ordnance Company
** 360th Transportation Company
** 549th Quartermaster Company
*43rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 43rd SB
** 230th Financial Management Company
** 152nd Transportation Detachment

ervice History

The unit was constituted into the Regular Army on 18 January 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d General Support Group. The unit was activated on 26 March 1966 at Fort Carson, CO and organized on 16 May 1966. The first battalion to join the Group was the 68th Transportation Battalion which was activated in August 1966. Three more battalions joined the Group in 1967: 195th Maintenance Battalion on 23 February; 242nd Maintenance Battalion on 25 February; and 70th Ordnance Battalion on 1 March. On 26 July 1967, acting on a seven hour notification, HHC, 43d and 352nd Transportation Company (Light Truck) deployed to Selfridges Air Force Base, Michigan, to provide logistical support for the elements of the XVIII Airborne Corps during riot control operations. In August and September 1967, units of the Group deployed to Alaska during severe flooding to establish a field laundry site. In 1968, the organization of the Group changed: the 336th Ordnance Battalion joined the Group on 20 May and the 242nd Maintenance Battalion, one of the Groups original members, inactivated on 25 August. In addition to Group organization changes, the 336th Ordnance Battalion deployed to Southeast Asia on 26th September 1968.

In 1970 three military police companies (19th, 148th and 984th) and the 283rd Aviation Company joined the Group in May; the 40th Supply and Service Company joined the Group in November; and the 195th Maintenance Battalion (another of the Group's original members) inactivated on 4 December. In 1971 the 283rd Aviation Company was transferred to Fort Bragg in June; the 4th Military Police Company joined the Group; and a third original member, the 70th Ordnance Battalion, was inactivated in November. In 1972 the 19th Military Police Battalion was formed as a headquarters for the Military Police companies; the 52nd Engineer Battalion joined the Group in July; and the 4th Military Intelligence Company and B Company, 75th Infantry(Ranger) joined the Group in August. The Group was redesignated as the 43d Corps Support Group in 1973.

Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm

The 43d Corps Support Group deployed to Southwest Asia as a part of Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm from October 1990 to April 1991.

Operation Restore Hope

The Group also deployed to Somalia as a part of Operation Restore Hope from December 1992 to September 1993. The Group was redesignated as the 43d Area Support Group on 16 April 1994.

Operation Sea Signal

In September 1994, the 43d deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to participate in support of Operation Sea Signal as the 43d Joint Logistics Support Group for JTF 160. The 43d returned from Cuba in February 1995.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In February 2003 the 43d Area Support Group deployed to Kuwait and various sites in Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom I. The group returned home in August 2003. The Provider team deployed again from October 2004 to September 2005 to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Operation Enduring Freedom

The 43rd Area Support Group deployed from January 2007 through January 2008 under Colonel John Howard to coordinate logistics for all US forces operating in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom VIII. The 147th Personnel Service Battalion (MN ARNG), 450th Movement Control Battalion (USAR), and the 726th Finance Battalion (MA ARNG) were attached to the 43rd for this deployment. The unit was operating primarily in support of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade after the redeployment of the 10th Mountain Division. During this deployment, a robust Rear-Detachment provided Command & Control for the units that did not deploy- primarily the 4th Engineer Battalion and the 10th Combat Support Hospital as well as elements of the 68th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion.

Transformation

Effective 17 July 2008, the 43rd Area Support Group was redesignated as the 43rd Sustainment Brigade. As part of the reorganization, the 43rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion and 230th Financial Management Company (FMCO) were activated and the 10th Combat Support Hospital and 4th Engineer Battalion were reassigned away from the Brigade.

Campaign Streamers

Unit Decorations

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Description: On a buff colored vertical rectangular embroidered item, arched outwardly at top and bottom, a red diagonal stripe from upper left to lower right, between a white compass rose upper right and stylized buff mountain range of five peaks with white snowcapped with dark gray details; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border. Overall dimensions are 2 1/16 inches (5.24 cm) in width and 3 1/16 inches (7.78 cm) in height.

Symbolism: Buff and scarlet are the colors traditionally associated with the Support units. The diagonal stripe suggests protection. The compass rose signifies guidance and the unit’s capability to deploy worldwide. The stylized mountain range denotes Fort Carson, Colorado, home of the unit since 1966. The five peaks allude to the five campaigns fought by the 43d Corps and Area Support Groups, predecessors to the 43d Sustainment Brigade.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved effective 16 April 2008. The insignia was designed by unit personnel while deployed to Afghanistan in 2007.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a white Doric column in center and behind its lower half a gold sun with two rays shown on either side above two sprigs of laurel issuant at either side of the column base; enclosing the sun and laurel passing in front of the upper section of the column a semi-circular gold scroll inscribed with the words “PROVIDE WITH PRIDE” in red letters.

Symbolism: The central column is indicative of strength and support. The gold sun is for the high quality of service the unit provides and the laurel represents pride in achievement.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 43d Support Group on 25 April 1973. It was redesignated effective 16 April 2008, for the 43d Sustainment Brigade and amended to update the description and symbolism.

Liberty

*The White Buffalo of the 43d Area Support Group is named "Liberty", and was unveiled on 1 October 2001. It was manufactured by Star Nursery & Garden Center, Pueblo, Colorado. In some traditions, these animals are sacred. The "White Buffalo" is the most revered of all. The appearance of the White Buffalo is a sign that prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored, and that the promises of prophesy are being fulfilled.
*Liberty has deployed with the Brigade Headquarters to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
*On 17 September 2008, Liberty was refurbished and Liberty II was delivered into the custody of the Brigade by Star Nursery allowing the unit to deploy one while the other guards the home front.

In the Media

*Equipment from the 43rd ASG was used as backdrop for "Stargate SG-1". Location shooting was conducted at the NORAD facility, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colorado in the vicintity of the 43rd's garrison at Fort Carson.

External links

* [http://www.carson.army.mil/UNITS/43rdasg/ Fort Carson Homepage]
* [http://www.carson.army.mil/Post%20Guide/2005%20Post%20Guide.pdf/ Fort Carson Phone Directory]
* [http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Sustain/43SustainmentBrigade.htm/ US Army Institute of Heraldry page for the 43rd Sustainment Brigade]
* [http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/spt/0043sptgp.htm/ Official Lineage & Honors for the 43rd Sustainment Brigade]
* [http://public.carson.army.mil/sites/pao/mountaineer/archives/Forms/current%20edition.aspx/ Current Fort Carson "Mountaineer"]
* [http://www.carson.army.mil/pao/History%20Book/History%20Book.pdf/ Fort Carson Post History]
* [http://www.aerhq.org/ Army Emergency Relief]
* [http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/units/unit_template.php?unit=PULAA/ 147th Personnel Services Battalion Homepage]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/726fin.htm/ 726th Finance Battalion page]
* [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=2919/ 450th Movement Battalion pre-deployment training]
* [http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/09/18/business/local/doc48d1c4cb3559d986537049.txt/ Liberty gets a facelift and a twin]