The seven newest units in the United States Army Reserve were activated in a ceremony at U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Sembach Kaserne on Sept 14, 2019, under the 7th Mission Support Command.
Col. Scott K. Thomson, the deputy commander of the 7th MSC, officiated the activation of the 510th Regional Support Group and their Headquarters Company located in Sembach, the 83rd Sustainment Support Battalion and their Headquarters Company in Kaiserslautern, the 319th Military History Detachment in Wiesbaden, the 530th Movement Control Team in Grafenwoehr, and the 603rd Movement Control Team in Vicenza, Italy, under the 446th Movement Control Battalion. In addition, the 406th Human Resource Company was inactivated.
“It’s becoming increasingly clear that our Army Reserve units and Soldiers in Europe are indispensable to the security posture to European Command, NATO and United States Army Europe,” said Thomson.
The realignment and activation of the new units was in support of both the EUCOM and USAEUR mission here in Europe. The 510th is the only forward stationed RSG in Europe organic to USAEUR. It will be able to support base camp operations for 6,000 or more Soldiers with mission in the theater, such as the Regionally Aligned Force in Poland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
For Col. Aaron Justice, the commander of the 510th, the ceremony had special meaning as he was the former commander of the 406th in 2010 and the inaugural commander of the 446th MCB when it activated several years ago.
“All four of my commands where represented here today,” said Justice. “I’m honored I was selected to activate a unit for a second time, and I hope I can mentor and lead the Soldiers and officers of the unit to continue the excellence they have shown in the short time they have been preparing for activation.”
The new units, as well as several other 7th MSC units, will be subordinate to the 510th RSG as it assumes the higher brigade-level command and headquarters.
“I have no doubt that in a year, these newly activated units will be the envy of the command within the 7th,” said Thomson. “Each of you have a good reason to stand tall, thump your chests and say ‘I built this’.”
