When the 3rd Sustainment Command was activated with the designation of 3rd Logistical Command in September, 1950, it marked the first time the U.S. Army had employed a logistical command structure that incorporated quartermaster, transportation, medical, and ordnance units under an umbrella organization. Its first task as part of the offensive begun with the landing at Inchon was to receive, unload, store, and deliver supplies for X Corps, and in so doing it was required to establish both beach and anti-aircraft defenses. Over the next two-and-a-half years, the unit participated in eight campaigns and garnered two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations for its work.
From 1958 until 1967, the unit was deployed to France, and from there it moved to Germany where it became V Corps Support Command, or COSCOM. In 1974, V COSCOM was redesignated as 3rd Support Command (Corps), with the (Corps) designation being dropped in 1979 yet keeping the COSCOM acronym. During its stay in Europe, participated in numerous training exercises as preparation for a possible incursion by Warsaw Pact forces.
The 1990s were a decade of peacekeeping and humanitarian missions for 3rd COSCOM. Elements from the unit spent a year (1992-1993) in Croatia supporting Operation Provide Promise; aviation-support personnel spent six months in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope (December 1992-May 1993); and in July 1993 3rd COSCOM soldiers were deployed to Southwest Asia as part of Operation Provide Cover. Every event was represented by troops during the unit's deployment to the Balkans in 1999 to provide support for Task Forces Hawk and Falcon as they took part in the NATO-led air campaign in Kosovo.
After 3rd COSCOM headquarters were deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, more than 17,000 were tasked with providing logistical support for U.S. and Coalition forces. Since that time, 3rd COSCOM—redesignated 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in September, 2007—has participated in every Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation, in addition to being deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom.
Based on the shoulder sleeve insignia approved for 3rd Logistical Command in 1952 and subsequently redesignated twice to reflect the unit's name changes, the Combat Service Identification Badge (CSIB) for 3rd Sustainment Command features three blue outward-point arrows. These represent both the unit's numerical designation and its mission of delivering combat support wherever it might be needed.
Related Items
3rd Sustainment Command Patch (SSI)
3rd Sustainment Command Distinctive Unit Insignia (Unit Crest)