[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMY RESERVES AND THEIR 
                       CONTRIBUTION TO CALIFORNIA

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                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 2, 1998

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the great contributions 
of the United States Army Reserve to our country. I particularly want 
to recognize the 63rd Regional Support Command in California. The Army 
Reserve was started as a pool of people whose professional skills were 
not regularly needed during peacetime, but were critical during 
deployment and mobilization. The Reserves have grown to fill a critical 
need for our armed services in war and peace.
  The Army Reserve has served in every major American military 
operation since its establishment and has played a key role in 
supporting international peacekeeping missions around the world. 
Additionally, the mission of the Reserve goes far beyond aiding 
American interest missions abroad. An often forgotten contribution of 
our Army Reservists is their role here at home supporting fellow 
Americans in the event of disasters.
  No discussion of the United States Army Reserves would be complete 
without mentioning their greatest resource of all--their people. These 
are citizen-soldiers--the fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, 
husbands and wives--that give their time to serve and protect us at 
home and abroad. These noble men and women make up 20 percent of the 
Army's organized units, provide 46 percent of the Army's combat service 
support and 30 percent of the Army's combat support. All of this is 
done for about 5 percent of the Army's budget. Having served for 8 
years in strategic intelligence with the Army Reserve, I can attest to 
the important role for these men and women.
  In Southern California, the U.S. Army 63rd Regional Support Command 
proudly stands as our regional branch of the Army Reserve. This Support 
Command was established originally to help the 63rd Infantry Division 
support relief efforts during natural disasters and other regional 
crises more quickly. Headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, the 
63rd Regional Support Command continues to support Active Army missions 
with more than 14,000 soldiers.
  In response to a downsized force and frequently shifting missions, 
the United States Army Reserve announced in 1995 its largest 
realignment in decades. This realignment led to the 63rd having its 
geographic boundaries realigned to conform with the standard Federal 
district observed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  The 63rd Regional Support Command continues to provide combat support 
and combat service support to field units during deployments. The 63rd 
adds flexibility to our Active Army force by filling in for troops 
deployed abroad. Furthermore, the 63rd is trained to provide medical 
units; port, rail, and other transportation support; as well as acting 
as a training base during full mobilization.
  Presently, the 63rd Regional Support Command has control of more than 
14,000 men and women serving in approximately 140 units in my home 
State of California, as well as Arizona and Nevada. Commanded by 
Brigadier General John L. Scott, the 63rd will certainly continue to 
shine as a keen example of the importance and prominence of the United 
States Army Reserve.
  Today, the Army Reserve is positioned better than ever to be an 
active and vital player in America's Active Army. The Army Reserve 
stands as a symbol of the strength of the American citizen-soldier and 
I want to thank the Army Reserve for the continuation of their past 
efforts and their 90 years of dedicated service.

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