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CONUS Replacement Center: OUA Support

Thursday, February 12, 2015

What is it?

In support of Operation United Assistance (OUA), First Army conducted theater-specific CONUS Replacement Center training at Fort Bliss, Texas. This training both for individual non-unit related personnel (NRP) and small teams, began in September 2014, in conjunction with the Army’s planning and execution of Soldier support of the multi-agency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

What has the Army done?

Under direction of the Army, U.S. Army Forces Command designated First Army as the executing agent for mission command and operation of the combined Combat Readiness Center (CRC). As such, the CRC receives, processes, trains and validates personnel from all military branches and components, Departments of the Army and Defense civilians and contractors, and personnel from other government agencies for deployment to and redeployment from theaters of operation worldwide, including West Africa. The individuals and small teams deploying to provide OUA support join a joint and interagency team supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the lead federal agency.

The CRC provides U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) theater-specific and OUA-required individual support during a five to seven-day deployment cycle. Deploying personnel also receive OUA-specific medical threat and protection training from a U.S. Army Medical Command mobile training team and personal protective equipment based upon the expected risk level of Ebola virus exposure for levels 1 and 2 only.

To date, the CONUS Replacement Center has processed, deployed and redeployed more than 140 personnel in support of OUA.

What efforts does the Army plan to continue?

The Army support for AFRICOM and USAID is a joint effort and includes Soldiers and civilians from all services to provide OUA command and control headquarters, infrastructure maintenance and logistical/life-sustaining support. Deploying personnel are trained in personal health safety to preserve their well-being, protect U.S. citizens and safeguard interests in the area of responsibility.

Why is this important to the Army?

In October 2014, the Secretary of Defense approved the mobilization of reserve component units in support of OUA, giving advanced notification to prepare units and personnel for deployment in spring 2015. In January 2015, DoD rescinded the requirement for reserve component mobilization noting, with confidence, that the continuing needs of the OUA mission could be met without activating the reserves. First Army, as the Army’s and FORSCOM’s executing agent, will continue to play a crucial role in processing, training, deploying and redeploying small numbers of military, civilian and contractor personnel to support OUA until the mission is complete.

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