658th Activation Ceremony
By 658th Regional Support Group Public Affairs
658th Activation Ceremony
SEOUL, Republic of Korea - The U.S. Army Reserve’s 658th Regional Support Group was activated during a ceremony on Yongsan Garrison Nov. 20.
The group provides the Army with an expeditionary force for the operation of contingency bases in assigned area of operations. It is under the acting command of Lt. Col. Ronald Garrett.
Guest speaker for the activation was Brig. Gen. Michele G. Compton, commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 9th Mission Support Command headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, and under which the 658th reports.
“Today marks a historic day for the 9th MSC as we just conducted the activation of the 658th,” she said. “There has been a lot of work to get us where we are today.”
The presence of the 658th on peninsula allows Army Reservists living in Korea an opportunity to serve within an on-pen Army Reserve unit. Most all of its Soldier’s reside in Korea permanently and speak the language, know the culture, and have extensive knowledge of military operations pertaining to the Korean peninsula. “Over the course of the last 8 to 12 months, I have had the priviledge of getting to know you and seeing you work,” Compton told the gathered Soldiers. “I have been truly and genuinely impressed.”
During his remarks, Garrett spoke of the importance of the new unit. “With the unfurling of this flag, we open a new chapter for the Army Reserve on the Korean peninsula,” he said. “We are not encumbered with a previous history - we have a clean slate.”
The unit will be headquartered on Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, but can deploy into any assigned area of operations.
“We have an extremely important mission; vital and worthy work,” he said. “You are already doing a truly magnificent job. You are clearly Soldiers of excellence.”
For more info:
MAJ Donghan Lee - S1, 658th RSG DSN: 723-4103, donghan.lee@korea.army.mil
MSG Rivera, Onesimo - NCOIC S1 658th RSG DSN: 736-4061, onesimo.rivera@korea.army.mil