528th Sustainment Brigade (United States)

Special Operations Sustainment Brigade (Airborne)
Active	November 1, 1995 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Special Operations Support
Role	SOSCOM's mission is to assure combat service support, health service support and signal support to Army special operations forces around the world
Size	Brigade
Part of	United States Special Operations Command United States Army Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Nickname(s)	SOSCOM
Motto(s)	"We Support to the Utmost"
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Lance G. Curtis

The 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne) or SBSO(A) was activated on 16 December 2008, as part of the overall United States Army Special Operations Forces logistics transformation. The brigade replaced the Special Operations Support Command (Airborne) (SOSCOM) as combat service support and combat health support unit for all Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) units.

Units

The Sustainment Brigade consists of the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne), the Special Troops Battalion (former 528 Support Battalion), the 528th MI Battalion, the Army Special Operations Forces Support Operations Cell, six ARSOF Liaison Elements and two Medical Role II^[1] teams. Together the units of the brigade ensure that US Army Special Operations Forces are equipped to perform their missions.

Army SOF (ARSOF) Liaison Elements (ALEs)

ARSOF Liaison Elements (ALEs) are embedded in each regional theaters' staff. They plan and coordinate with theater Army, Special Operations Command and Army Special Operations Command to ensure support during operations and training. As a theater Army staff member, these officers and non-commissioned officers' knowledge of theater-specific requirements and capabilities assist units in coordination with the theater.

Army Special Operations Forces Support Operations Cell

Army Special Operations Forces Support Operations Cells coordinate and synchronize the requirements of ARSOF with conventional Army logistics infrastructure in a deployed environment.

Special Troops Battalion and 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion

Specializing in advanced communications and resupply capabilities, members of the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne) and the Brigade Troops Battalion (former 528th SOSB (A), have the mission of supporting USASOC. In their respective fields, signal and support soldiers provide supplies, maintenance, equipment and expertise allowing Special Operation Forces to "shoot, move and communicate" on a continuous basis. Because USASOC often uses Special Operations Forces-unique items, soldiers assigned to these units are taught to operate and maintain a vast array of specialized equipment not normally used by their conventional counterparts. To meet the needs of USASOC, the two battalions have developed logistical and signal packages that are deployable on a moment's notice. Soldiers assigned to these units are generally airborne qualified.

References

1. The Special Operations Resuscitation Team: Robust Role II Medical Support for Today’s SOF Environment, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Volume 9 / Edition 1 / Winter 2009, by Jamie Riesberg (MD), last accessed 22 October 2016