marcus_crassus
15.07.03, 02:17
Army's first space brigade stands up
by Maj. Laura Kenney
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (Army News Service, May 2, 2003) - Army Space
Command activated the service's first and only space brigade April 11 with
formation of the 1st Space Brigade (Provisional) in a ceremony held at the
command headquarters, Peterson Air Force Base.
Elements of the brigade's three battalions have been deployed in Iraq and
the surrounding theater in support of Marine Expeditionary Force 1, V Corps
and Central Command.
"This activation represents a huge step forward in the normalization of
Space," said Lt. Gen. Joseph M. Cosumano Jr., commanding general, U.S. Army
Space and Missile Defense Command. "And what better time to do it, than
these historic times we find ourselves in, with Army Space forces deployed
on critical missions, supporting the warfighters of Iraqi Freedom.
"The new 1st Space Brigade (Provisional) is the first and only Space Brigade
in the Army. Army Space Command just marked its 15th birthday, although the
history of the Army in Space is much longer than that. We've postponed
celebrating that anniversary while our soldiers are in harm's way, but, this
is still a great time to stand up the new brigade."
The ceremony itself involved, first, the uncasing and unfurling of the 1st
Space Brigade flag by Cosumano. It was posted in the waiting empty stand,
already flanked by the Army Space Command and three battalion flags. Then,
while the official activation orders were read, Cosumano passed the formal,
framed copy of the order to the brigade commander, Col. David Shaffer.
The mission of the 1st Space Brigade, as detailed in the order, is
to "conduct continuous, global space support, space control and space force
enhancement operations in support of U.S. Strategic Command and supported
combatant commanders enabling the delivery of decisive combat power."
Army Space Command officially came into being April 7, 1988. Its three
battalions - the 1st Satellite Control Battalion, the 1st Space Battalion
and the 193rd Space Battalion, Colorado National Guard - provide satellite
communications, force enhancement and early missile warning to the
warfighter.
Shaffer insisted that the honors of the day belonged not to him, as first
commander of the first-ever Space Brigade, but to that brigade's deployed
soldiers, whom he and Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Reginald Ficklin could only
represent.
"Our soldiers are over there, as we speak, doing tremendous things. This
ceremony is for them, as they sweat and work around the clock, helping the
combatant commanders achieve the spectacular success they have," said
Shaffer.
Cosumano extended a special welcome to another general officer attending the
event, Air Force Maj. Gen. Mason C. Whitney, Adjutant General for Colorado's
Army and Air National Guard.
"We couldn't be doing the tremendous job we're doing, supporting the
warfighter in current operations, without his people. Case in point, the
193rd Space Battalion, activated just before Sept. 11. What a great asset
they have been. They, as well as their sister battalions, have been doing a
magnificent job in supporting the warfighter, wherever he is deployed."
"And make no mistake, we are a crucial part of that war effort," Consumano
said. "We've got Army Space Support Teams and Joint Tactical Ground Stations
sections, and a host of other elements providing communications, early
missile warning - everything we have in terms of operational capability is
involved in current operations.
"In OPERATION DESERT STORM, we'd just begun offering the benefits of the
Global Positioning System. Today, we're providing force enhancement and
force protection. We've come a long way in 15 years, and the stand-up of
this brigade today is an indicator of all the challenges we'll meet in the
future," Cosumano concluded.
Shaffer addressed those future challenges: "Today's activation as a
provisional unit is a major step in the process to becoming a permanent Army
unit. The great thing about today is that it opens the door to expansion. By
increasing the size of the brigade, we increase the support we give to the
warfighter. This ceremony, unlike that of a change of command, which is all
about welcoming a new commander and saying farewell to the outgoing, this
ceremony is about the unit, about its soldiers, past, present and future,"
said Shaffer.
Under Army regulations, a provisional unit may be organized and designated
by the commander of an Army field command. Provisional units may be
organized for a limited period of time, not to exceed two years. At the end
of the two-year period, the commander will make a recommendation whether or
not to permanently organize the unit.
(Editor's note: Maj. Laura Kenney is a member of the Army Space Command
public affairs team.)
artykul z
www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2003/space-030502-army-spacebrigade.htm