What is the 314th Public Affairs Operation Center?
The 314th is an Army Reserve unit that specializes in Public Affairs. This type of Public Affairs unit is slightly different than most others because its mission is to support the work of civilian and military media representatives. The unit is divided into a command, briefing, escort, and audio-visual production functional areas.
What is the Army Reserve?
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army.
The Army Reserve was formed in 1908 to provide a reserve of medical officers to the Army. After the First World War, under the National Defense Act on 4 June 1920, Congress reorganized the U.S. land forces by authorizing a Regular Army, a National Guard, and an Organized Reserve (Officers Reserve Corps and Enlisted Reserve Corps) of unrestricted size, which later became the Army Reserve.
Wherever the Army commits forces in the world – Afghanistan, Bosnia, the Philippines, Iraq – soldiers in the Army Reserve are an integral part, providing critical support, force protection and augmentation. No longer a “force in reserve,” the Army Reserve is a full partner across a broad spectrum of operations, from major combat operations to homeland defense, from peacekeeping to humanitarian missions. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism have only intensified the pace of operations for the Army Reserve, reinforcing the need for constant readiness and speedy, flexible mobilization.
Why is the 314th in Iraq?
The 314th was mobilized in accordance with Federal law under a partial mobilization. When mobilization orders are received, Soldiers report to their Army Reserve training center and prepare for activation. The 314th received such a mobilization order to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in accordance with Executive Order 13223, signed by President George W. Bush on September 14, 2001.
How long is this mobilization?
Based on current policy, the length of the mobilization is set at no more than 365 days. This period begins on the date of mobilization in the United States, not the date a Soldier or unit arrives in Iraq. The period ends when the Soldier or unit returns to the United States and released from mobilization.
What authorized this mobilization?
There are four types of mobilizations. Each has different requirements to be legally enacted and limitations.
Presidential Reserve Call-up (PRC). The President has the authority to involuntarily augment the active forces by a call-up of up to 200,000 members of the selected reserve for a period up to 270 days to meet mission requirements within the continental United States (CONUS) or overseas. The President must notify Congress within 24 hours and state the reason for his action.
Partial Mobilization. The President has the authority to mobilize no more than 1,000,000 reservists (units and individuals from all services), for 24 months or less, and the resources needed for their support to meet the requirements of war or other national emergency involving an external threat to national security.
Full Mobilization. Congress must declare that a state of national emergency exists to call up all forces, including Army Reserve and Army National Guard units, Individual Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve and members of the Retired Reserve, and the resources required for their support. The duration is the length of the emergency plus six months.
Total Mobilization. Once a state of national emergency exists, Congress can extend full mobilization by activating and organizing additional units beyond the currently approved force structure. Total mobilization brings the industrial base up to full capacity to provide the additional resources, equipment and production facilities needed to support the armed forces of the nation, as done in World War II.
Who controls the 314th when it mobilizes to Iraq?
As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 314th is under the command and control of Army General Raymond Odierno, Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, or MNF-I.
What is MNF-I?
MNF-I is a military command, led by the United States, that is fighting the Iraq War against Iraqi insurgents or resistants. The Commander of MNF-I reports directly to Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of United States Central Command, or USCENTCOM.
What is USCENTCOM?
USCENTCOM is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Its area of responsibility is in the Middle East, including Egypt, and Central Asia. CENTCOM has been the main American presence in many military operations, including the Gulf War, the United States war in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. Forces from CENTCOM currently are deployed primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan in combat roles and have bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, and central Asia in support roles. CENTCOM forces have also been deployed in Jordan, and Saudi Arabia in the past, although no substantial forces are based in those countries as of as of 2005.
Want to know where Army Reserve Public Affairs units are located in the United States? Check this out: Unit Map