WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) and Lieutenant General Jack. C. Stultz, Chief, U.S. Army Reserve, today announced the Army Reserve will soon begin building up a new command and control unit in Kansas. The 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) will be located at the Lanny J. Wallace Army Reserve Center in Wichita.

“I am very pleased that the Army Reserve has recognized the strong base of support they have in the area by placing this command in Wichita,” said Brownback. “The Army Reserve continues to transform to meet new challenges, and I appreciate the willingness of Lieutenant General Stultz to work with the Kansas delegation to preserve a strong Army Reserve presence in the Wichita area. It is a good decision for our reservists, good for the local economy and good for the Reserve.”

“As a former Marine, I am pleased the Army Reserve will bring senior Army leadership to Kansas to open a new command and control unit in Wichita,” said Roberts. “The 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) represents the future of the Army’s logistics command and control as the military continues to transform to meet the challenges of today’s world. Thank you to Lt. Gen. Stultz, Senator Brownback and Congressman Tiahrt for their continued efforts to bring this unit to Wichita resulting in more job possibilities. This is great news for the Wichita area, which has a history of contributing to our nation’s defense and will continue to do so with this new command.”

“The decision to place additional personnel and leadership structure in Kansas addresses a gap created by base closures in 2005 and revalidates that Kansas has the right people, communities and values the military is looking for when making basing decisions,” said Tiahrt. “After the 2005 base realignments, we saw a transfer of Army Reserve leadership leaving the heartland. I am very pleased our efforts paid off so we can maintain a robust leadership presence in Wichita. Army Reserve soldiers in Kansas will continue to have strong career opportunities while benefiting from interaction with senior Army leadership. The new unit will mean hundreds of more job opportunities and a boost to our local economy.

“I would like to thank Lt. Gen. Stultz, Senator Brownback and Senator Roberts for their dedication to making sure this new command and control unit is placed in Kansas.”

“This new Army Reserve unit will be geographically essential, yet globally employable,” said Lt. Gen. Stultz. “As the Army Reserve continues to transition from a strategic force in reserve to an operational force, the demand to position expeditionary sustainment commands in targeted areas around the country has grown. The 451st ESC will provide logistics support as well as material and distribution management for regionally assigned forces.”

The Army Reserve has officially placed the 451st ESC in a two-year “carrier status” to allow the Army Reserve the necessary time to recruit soldiers, equip the unit and begin training to meet an activation date of September 16, 2011.  The 451st ESC will be commanded by a yet-to-be named Brigadier General and will be staffed by approximately 250 officers, warrant officers and enlisted soldiers.  The countdown for the unit to fulfill its military function upon activation begins September 16, 2009.

The 4th Congressional District in Kansas currently has 17 Army Reserve units in Wichita, El Dorado and Independence with approximately 800 part-time soldiers and more than 185 full-time soldiers and civilians.

###