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The United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) is an Army Service Component Command which serves as the Army component for United States Indo-Pacific Command. 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 U.S. forces in Korea since January 2012, and USARPAC headquarters oversees the manning, training, and equipping of Army forces assigned to USFK.
Evolution of US Army, Pacific and Major Subordinate Commands:
1. Origins to 1957: Today US Army, Pacific (USARPAC) commands most Army forces in the Asia-Pacific region, except for Korea.
The command can trace its lineage to 1910 and has continually evolved to meet mission requirements.
25 October 1910 - District of Hawaii.
1 October 1911 - Department of Hawaii.
15 February 1913 - Hawaiian Department.
14 August 1943 - US Army Forces, Central Pacific Area.
1 August 1944 - US Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas.
1 July 1945 - US Army Forces, Middle Pacific.
1 February 1947 - US Army, Pacific.
2. Post-Korean War to Post-Vietnam War:
The Far East Command (located in Tokyo) was inactivated in 1957 and was replaced by a new unified command, US Pacific Command (USPACOM). The Army established US Army, Pacific (USARPAC) as a component of USPACOM to command all Army forces in the region. This command lasted until 1974 after the American withdrawal from Vietnam.
1 July 1957 - USARPAC reorganized as component of US Pacific Command (USPACOM).
1 July 1973 - United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) established.
31 December 1974 - USARPAC inactivated, Eighth Army and US Army, Japan became major commands.
1 January 1975 - US Army Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) Support Group (USACSG) formed as Department of the Army Field Operating Agency, US Army Support Command Hawaii assigned to FORSCOM.
3. WESTCOM to USARPAC:
Beginning in 1977 Army leaders developed a long-range plan called Project Pacific Phoenix to rebuild USARPAC. This was implemented in the 1980s and early 1990s, except for the inclusion of Eighth Army.
23 March 1979 - US Army Western Command (WESTCOM) established as major command for Hawaii.
1 October 1989 - WESTCOM gains Army forces in Alaska.
30 August 1990 - WESTCOM gains Army forces in Japan. Redesignated US Army, Pacific (USARPAC).
1 October 2000 - Reorganized as Army service component command.
October 2002 - Pacific Region Office, Installation Management Agency, activated.
4. 25th Infantry Division (Light) & US Army, Hawaii:
The control of Army forces and installations in Hawaii has reflected the evolving Army command structure in the Pacific.
March 1972 - 25th Infantry Division reactivated at Schofield Barracks.
1 January 1973 - US Army Support Command, Hawaii (USASCH) activated.
31 December 1974 - USARPAC inactivated, assets go to USASCH, USASCH assigned to FORSCOM.
23 March 1979 - WESTCOM activated, takes command of USASCH.
1 March 1992 - 25th ID(L) & U.S. Army Hawaii (USARHAW) formed from 25th ID(L), USASCH, Law Enforcement Command, and 45th Support Group.
6 January 1994 - USASCH redesignated US Army Garrison, Hawaii (USAG-HI).
October 2002 - US Army Garrison, Hawaii reassigned to Pacific Region Office, Installation Management Agency.
5. US Army, Alaska:
October 2002 - US Army Garrison, Alaska reassigned to Pacific Region Office, Installation Management Agency.
6. US Army, Japan:
October 2002 - US Army Garrison, Japan activated under Pacific Region Office, Installation Management Agency.
30 March 1942 - Establishment of Pacific Ocean Areas (POA). Pacific Ocean Areas (POA) was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War and one of three United States commands in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
On 30 March 1942 the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) divided the Pacific theater into three areas: the Pacific Ocean Areas (POA), the South West Pacific Area (SWPA), and the Southeast Pacific Area.
Patch Description/Blazon: On a blue disc 2 3/4 inches in diameter, a red arrow fimbriated white, pointing upward bendwise at a 30-degree angle between the star polaris, the seven stars of Ursa Major, and the four stars of the Southern Cross, all white.
Symbolism: The arrow is representative of the strength and valor of the Armed Forces of the United States while the location of the Pacific Ocean Areas is indicated by Polaris, the seven star of Ursa Major, and the constellation of the Southern Cross.
Background: The insignia was originally approved for the United States Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas on 18 October 44; redesignated for United States Army Forces Middle Pacific on 8 September 45; redesignated for United States Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas on 1 November 45; redesignated for United States Army Pacific on 4 December 47; redesignated United States Army Western Command effective 23 March 79; and redesignated for the United States Army, Pacific effective 22 August 90.
