Chapter 11: That’s a STRAC Soldier!
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In the summer of 1957, @usairforce General Nathan Twining replaced @USNavy Admiral Arthur W. Radford as chairman of @thejointstaff
In the summer of 1957, @usairforce General Nathan Twining replaced @USNavy Admiral Arthur W. Radford as chairman of @thejointstaff
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In Twining, Maxwell Taylor (still Chief of Staff of the @USArmy) found a champion for an idea he’d developed in 1956.
In Twining, Maxwell Taylor (still Chief of Staff of the @USArmy) found a champion for an idea he’d developed in 1956.
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Unlike the Pentomic Division, this was actually a good idea.
Unlike the Pentomic Division, this was actually a good idea.
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The idea was to identify a corps that would serve as a headquarters for land forces that would stay in reserve (i.e., they were not to be committed to any war plans).
The idea was to identify a corps that would serve as a headquarters for land forces that would stay in reserve (i.e., they were not to be committed to any war plans).
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The corps HQ was to command and control these reserve forces in the event of a crisis somewhere in the world that did NOT involve major theater was with the USSR (a crisis for which, of course, we had war plans and against which Army units were committed).
The corps HQ was to command and control these reserve forces in the event of a crisis somewhere in the world that did NOT involve major theater was with the USSR (a crisis for which, of course, we had war plans and against which Army units were committed).
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Taylor assigned the XVIII Airborne Corps with this designation. The Army called it STRAC (STRategic Army Corps)
Taylor assigned the XVIII Airborne Corps with this designation. The Army called it STRAC (STRategic Army Corps)
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STRAC was a designation and not a specific mission. The XVIII Airborne Corps was essentially given the responsibility for today’s equivalent of the Immediate Response Force.
STRAC was a designation and not a specific mission. The XVIII Airborne Corps was essentially given the responsibility for today’s equivalent of the Immediate Response Force.
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Units under the corps would stand ready for a short-notice deployment. The corps HQ would provide a readiness standard and ensure those units met that standard.
Units under the corps would stand ready for a short-notice deployment. The corps HQ would provide a readiness standard and ensure those units met that standard.
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For Twining and Taylor, STRAC would provide a flexible land force that could deploy and fight.
For Twining and Taylor, STRAC would provide a flexible land force that could deploy and fight.
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For Maxwell Taylor, STRAC was the answer to limited war.
For Maxwell Taylor, STRAC was the answer to limited war.
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You see, if you had to respond very quickly to brushfire wars, proxy fights (things short of nuclear war), STRAC was the way to do it
You see, if you had to respond very quickly to brushfire wars, proxy fights (things short of nuclear war), STRAC was the way to do it
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The @4thInfDiv, then at @JBLM_PAO & the 101st Airborne Division @FortCampbell were designated as STRAC’s first-line divisions.
The @4thInfDiv, then at @JBLM_PAO & the 101st Airborne Division @FortCampbell were designated as STRAC’s first-line divisions.
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The @FightingFirst @FortRiley & @82ndABNDiv @FortBraggNC were to provide backup in the event of general war.
[Yes, we stole this logo design from @broadcastmike, #DealWithIt]
The @FightingFirst @FortRiley & @82ndABNDiv @FortBraggNC were to provide backup in the event of general war.
[Yes, we stole this logo design from @broadcastmike, #DealWithIt]
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By the way, this was the first time the 82nd Airborne was on a short-notice deployment status. It’s remained on some form of a no-notice deployment status ever since.
By the way, this was the first time the 82nd Airborne was on a short-notice deployment status. It’s remained on some form of a no-notice deployment status ever since.
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The 5th Logistical Command (later inactivated), also Bragg, would provide the corps with logistics support, while Fort Bragg’s XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery (now @18FABrigade) would control artillery units.
The 5th Logistical Command (later inactivated), also Bragg, would provide the corps with logistics support, while Fort Bragg’s XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery (now @18FABrigade) would control artillery units.
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The first ever STRAC commander was this handsome fella: Lt General Robert Frederick Sink. He took command in May 1957.
The first ever STRAC commander was this handsome fella: Lt General Robert Frederick Sink. He took command in May 1957.
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Sink was (of course) another member of the airborne mafia: he commanded the @101stAASLTDIV’s 506th regiment during WWII (he was played by Dale Dye in the “Band of Brothers” series)
Sink was (of course) another member of the airborne mafia: he commanded the @101stAASLTDIV’s 506th regiment during WWII (he was played by Dale Dye in the “Band of Brothers” series)
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So, Sink, a legendary paratrooper, was the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and STRAC (really, the same thing...the corps was the STRAC designee) and @FtBraggNC.
So, Sink, a legendary paratrooper, was the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and STRAC (really, the same thing...the corps was the STRAC designee) and @FtBraggNC.
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Under Sink the STRAC concept blossomed. Standards for all organizations were established. Training events were developed & focused to meet those standards. @102ndblackhawk6 would approve.
Under Sink the STRAC concept blossomed. Standards for all organizations were established. Training events were developed & focused to meet those standards. @102ndblackhawk6 would approve.
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General Sink’s goal: the initial elements of STRAC (specifically the @4thInfDiv HQ & a few of its battalions) can reach any point in the world in six hours plus flying time after an order is received.
General Sink’s goal: the initial elements of STRAC (specifically the @4thInfDiv HQ & a few of its battalions) can reach any point in the world in six hours plus flying time after an order is received.
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By 1960 STRAC grew to include units under III Corps at @forthood as well as elements from the @1stArmoredDiv)
By 1960 STRAC grew to include units under III Corps at @forthood as well as elements from the @1stArmoredDiv)
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STRAC reinforced an idea that both Taylor and Ridgway had a hard time selling to Ike: US-based Army units that were not part of the Soviet war plan needed to remain at higher readiness for a wider range of missions.
STRAC reinforced an idea that both Taylor and Ridgway had a hard time selling to Ike: US-based Army units that were not part of the Soviet war plan needed to remain at higher readiness for a wider range of missions.
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While STRAC served a critical strategic utility, it was also part marketing campaign and part recruiting tool.
While STRAC served a critical strategic utility, it was also part marketing campaign and part recruiting tool.
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Within the beltway it was a marketing campaign.
Within the beltway it was a marketing campaign.
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Remember, this was a time of low readiness for US-based Army units and shrinking Army budgets. The STRAC designation provided an urgency for more resources going to Army units
Remember, this was a time of low readiness for US-based Army units and shrinking Army budgets. The STRAC designation provided an urgency for more resources going to Army units
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Within the Army, STRAC allowed for a recruiting campaign.
Within the Army, STRAC allowed for a recruiting campaign.
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You see, STRAC soldiers were important. They were cool. They were on the cutting edge. They were the country’s last line of defense against shadowy figures who sought to harm our country.
You see, STRAC soldiers were important. They were cool. They were on the cutting edge. They were the country’s last line of defense against shadowy figures who sought to harm our country.
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The Army invented a tagline that was used to compliment STRAC Soldiers: “That’s a STRAC Soldier!” shouted in amazement.
The Army invented a tagline that was used to compliment STRAC Soldiers: “That’s a STRAC Soldier!” shouted in amazement.
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The term carried through the generations. For example, we know young LT @MG_SmithT wanted to be a STRAC Soldier!
The term carried through the generations. For example, we know young LT @MG_SmithT wanted to be a STRAC Soldier!
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STRAC became a noun for a well-trained, spit-shined, bad@$$ soldier. An elite troop.
STRAC became a noun for a well-trained, spit-shined, bad@$$ soldier. An elite troop.
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This was really the dawn of the time that the 82nd and 101st became cool again.
This was really the dawn of the time that the 82nd and 101st became cool again.
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STRAC Soldiers had the newest equipment.
STRAC Soldiers had the newest equipment.
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In garrison, they had to spit shine their boots, they had to starch their uniforms. They cut off the tops and bottoms of coffee cans & put them in their pant legs to professionally blouse their boots.
In garrison, they had to spit shine their boots, they had to starch their uniforms. They cut off the tops and bottoms of coffee cans & put them in their pant legs to professionally blouse their boots.
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They had to Brasso all their badges. We spoke with one STRAC Soldier who told us: “We spent half our time putting our uniform together.”
They had to Brasso all their badges. We spoke with one STRAC Soldier who told us: “We spent half our time putting our uniform together.”
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They had higher standards of fitness and readiness than everyone else.
They had higher standards of fitness and readiness than everyone else.
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STRAC came to have another meaning: Skilled, Tough, Ready Around the Clock.
STRAC came to have another meaning: Skilled, Tough, Ready Around the Clock.
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The major drawback for STRAC: those units had no dedicated air and sea lift needed to actually move these units to hotspots quickly.
The major drawback for STRAC: those units had no dedicated air and sea lift needed to actually move these units to hotspots quickly.
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In 1961, President JFK replaced Eisenhower as POTUS.
In 1961, President JFK replaced Eisenhower as POTUS.
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JFK’s Secretary of Defense (Robert McNamara) recognized that STRAC needed its own lift capability.
[Taylor, McNamara, JFK in this pic]
JFK’s Secretary of Defense (Robert McNamara) recognized that STRAC needed its own lift capability.
[Taylor, McNamara, JFK in this pic]
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To truly build a rapid-response capability, the @DeptofDefense would need dedicated transport for STRAC.
To truly build a rapid-response capability, the @DeptofDefense would need dedicated transport for STRAC.
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So in March 1961 McNamara ordered the Joint Staff to develop a plan for integrating the Strategic Army Corps and @usairforce’s Tactical Air Command [a major AF command at @JBLE_News into a unified command.]
So in March 1961 McNamara ordered the Joint Staff to develop a plan for integrating the Strategic Army Corps and @usairforce’s Tactical Air Command [a major AF command at @JBLE_News into a unified command.]
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That unified command, United States Strike Command (USSTRICOM) was activated on 1 January 1962 at @MacDill_AFB with the dumbest patch ever. With this new joint command, the distinction of the STRAC designation faded away.
That unified command, United States Strike Command (USSTRICOM) was activated on 1 January 1962 at @MacDill_AFB with the dumbest patch ever. With this new joint command, the distinction of the STRAC designation faded away.
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But STRAC served its purpose for its time.
But STRAC served its purpose for its time.
END OF CHAPTER 11
In fact, the STRAC has evolved into the Immediate Response Force mission held by units all over the @DeptofDefense, including the @82ndABNDiv.
In fact, the STRAC has evolved into the Immediate Response Force mission held by units all over the @DeptofDefense, including the @82ndABNDiv.
