3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support)
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active5 May 1942-6 October 1945 15 March 1991 – Present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUS Army Reserve
BranchU.S. Army
Reserve CenterForest Park, Georgia
Nickname(s)”Desert Medics"[1]
Motto(s)Frontline Surgeons
Medical Corps colorsMaroon and White
EngagementsWorld War II
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Freedom Sentinel
Commanders
Current
commander		MG Joseph Marsiglia
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) (MCDS) or "Desert Medics"[1] is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and manages all the Army Reserve deployable field medical units east of Ohio. While the 807th MCDS covers the MTOE medical units to the west and ARMEDCOM provides command and control for all the Table of Distribution and Allowance (TDA) medical units within CONUS.

Units of the 3rd MCDS provide general, surgical, dental, ambulance, behavioral health, preventive maintenance, and veterinary support to Army units and to civilian populations.

Order of battle

World War II

Operation Desert Storm

[2]

Subordinate units

3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) is responsible for all operational reserve medical units east of the Mississippi river and in Louisiana.[3]

Lineage

3rd Medical Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company was constituted 21 December 1928, in the Regular Army as the 3rd Auxiliary Surgical Group.

Activated 5 May 1942, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Reorganized and redesignated 1 August 1945, as the 896th Medical Professional Service.

Inactivated 6 October 1945, in Germany.

Redesignated 16 March 1991, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Medical Command.

Activated in Saudi Arabia with personnel from Headquarters Company, 3rd Medical Command (Provisional) organized 16 September 1990 in Saudi Arabia.

The ARCENT Medical Group (Provisional) was established on 5 or 6 December 1990 by ARCENT Permanent Order 262-1 (Dinackus writes 5 December 1990).[4]

On 29 December 1990 ARCENT Permanent Order 273-1 amended that order to create the United States Army Forces Central Command Medical Command (Provisional). It appears the order was issued on 26 March, to be made effective (implemented) on 29 December.[5][6]

In order to provide the additional staff required for Headquarters, ARCENT Medical Command (Provisional), the staff of the 202nd Medical Group, an Army National Guard unit from Florida, was combined with the staff of the ARCENT Medical Group (Provisional).

On 5 March 1991, Forces Command Permanent Order 31-1 activated the 3rd Medical Command effective 15 March 1991.[4] While not technically a re-designation, the personnel and equipment of the ARCENT Medical Command (Provisional) were 'reflagged' as the 3rd Medical Command.

Unit insignia

MG Sienko
Maj. Gen. Dean Sienko, commander, 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support (MDSC) at the Fort Gillem Patriot Day Ceremony 11 Sept.

Shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)

Description

On a maroon triangle, one point down, with a 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm) yellow border, 3 inches (7.6 cm) in height and 2+3⁄4 inches (7.0 cm) in width overall, two yellow serpents with maroon eyes entwined upon a yellow staff with a white Maltese cross at top.[7]

Symbolism

Maroon and white are colors traditionally associated with the Medical Corps. The designation of the Command is denoted by the triangular shape of the insignia. The staff and serpents refer to medical service and the Maltese cross recalls the unit's heritage of support in combat. Yellow/gold stands for excellence.[7]

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was authorized on 12 June 1992. (TIOH Drawing Number A-1-800)[7]

Distinctive unit insignia (DUI)

Description

A gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall, consisting of a maroon cross surmounted by a white Maltese cross; on either side a gold spring of laurel conjoined at top and surmounted at top by two brown scimitars crossed diagonally points down with red tassels; at bottom an arced red scroll inscribed "FRONT LINE SURGEONS" in gold letters.[7]

Symbolism

Maroon and white are colors traditionally associated with the Medical Corps. The maroon cross stands for Army medicine while the Maltese cross recalls the 3rd Medical Command's heritage of service and sacrifice in the field. The laurel sprigs, signifying honor and achievement, recall the unit's World War II campaigns and service. They simulate an arrowhead recalling the unit's assault landing in Sicily, while forming a triangle highlighting the unit's numerical designation. The scimitars represent the unit's participation in the two Southwest Asia Campaigns. Gold stands for excellence, red for courage and sacrifice.[7]

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was authorized on 27 July 1992[7]

Unit honors

World War II

Southwest Asia

Global War on Terrorism

Iraq

Unit awards

Meritorious Unit Commendation:

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support).
  1. ^ a b "Special Unit Designations". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  2. ^ "Document page". www.dtic.mil. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. ^ "U.S. Army Reserve > Commands > Operational > 3rd MCDS > 3rd MCDSUnits". Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b Dinackus 2000, p. 2-4.
  5. ^ Dinackus writes 26 Dec 1990 (probably issue date); Globalsecurity 29 Dec 1990 (probably effective date).
  6. ^ "3rd Medical Command". GlobalSecurity.org.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "TIOH – Heraldry – 3 Medical Command". Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "HRC Homepage". Hrc.army.mil. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  9. ^ "General Orders No. 12" (PDF). Department of the Army. 13 May 1994. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ^ "HRC Homepage". Hrc.army.mil. Retrieved 19 June 2019.

External links

United States Army
United States Army Medical Command
Categories