653rd Regional Support Group
The 653rd Regional Support Group is a United States Army Reserve logistics and sustainment headquarters based in Mesa, Arizona.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 653rd Regional Support Group is a United States Army Reserve sustainment organization headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. It is subordinate to the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and provides command, logistics, readiness, mobilization, and deployment support for subordinate transportation, quartermaster, ordnance, and combat sustainment units. Its area of organizational responsibility extends across Arizona and California, while its operational assignments have included support activities in the United States and overseas theaters. The organization was constituted in the Army Reserve on December 31, 1998, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 653rd Support Group. It was activated at March Air Reserve Base, California, on April 16, 1999. The group was later redesignated the 653rd Regional Support Group on September 16, 2006, and moved its headquarters to Mesa, Arizona, on July 16, 2007. The relocation established the Arizona site as its long-term home while preserving its regional role across the Southwest. The 653rd RSG is a relatively recent Army Reserve organization and is not historically descended from, or entitled to inherit the lineage and honors of, the World War II-era 653rd Quartermaster Company. The earlier quartermaster company had a separate history beginning in 1944, including service associated with World War II and Vietnam. The current regional support group therefore represents a distinct organizational creation rather than a continuation of that earlier unit. Its principal function is to organize and direct sustainment formations. These formations handle activities such as transportation, petroleum support, fuel distribution, water purification and distribution, ammunition support, movement control, and field services. The group also supports large-scale deployment operations, including mobilization rotations and CONUS support-base missions at Fort Bliss, Texas. Its subordinate structure has included the 336th and 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalions, the 418th Quartermaster Battalion, and numerous transportation, quartermaster, ordnance, and movement-control detachments and companies. The group has performed both domestic and expeditionary assignments. It was ordered to active military service from May 2004 through May 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From October 2009 through November 2010, it deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where it supported sustainment operations across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. From March 2019 through March 2020, it served as a CONUS Support Base Headquarters at Fort Bliss in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A further active-duty order began on August 1, 2025, with the group operating as a CONUS Support Base at Fort Bliss. The organization's distinctive unit insignia was approved on October 7, 1999. The device uses the traditional buff or gold and scarlet palette associated with Army support organizations. Its black pheon refers to the steel and aluminum industries near the unit's original Southern California location, while two lightning flashes represent regional aerospace and electronics industries and suggest energy, technology, and innovation. The motto on the scroll is “INTEGRITY AND DETERMINATION.”
History
The 653rd Regional Support Group was constituted in the United States Army Reserve on December 31, 1998, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 653rd Support Group. Its formal constitution preceded its physical activation. On April 16, 1999, it was activated at March Air Reserve Base, California, where it began building personnel, training, readiness, and command capabilities. The group's distinctive unit insignia was approved later that year, on October 7, 1999. The organization was created as a new Army Reserve support headquarters. It has no authorized lineage connection to the World War II-era 653rd Quartermaster Company. That earlier organization was established in 1944 and had its own service history, including participation associated with World War II and Vietnam. Although the numerical designation is similar, the modern regional support group is not permitted to inherit the older unit's lineage, honors, or campaign streamers. On September 16, 2006, the group was redesignated the 653rd Regional Support Group. The change reflected its role as a regional headquarters overseeing and coordinating sustainment formations rather than functioning solely under its original support-group designation. On July 16, 2007, the headquarters relocated from the Southern California area to Mesa, Arizona. The move gave the organization its current principal base while maintaining a regional footprint that includes units in Arizona and California. The 653rd RSG has repeatedly been mobilized for operational support. From May 17, 2004, to May 16, 2006, it served on active military service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its work in that period was centered on support functions rather than a separately identified combat-arms mission. From October 25, 2009, to November 28, 2010, the group deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. In that assignment it supported sustainment operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility before reverting to reserve status. A later mobilization ran from March 18, 2019, through March 16, 2020. During this period the organization operated from Fort Bliss, Texas, as a CONUS Support Base Headquarters in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This role illustrates the group's ability to provide a headquarters for large-scale movement, reception, staging, onward movement, and sustainment activity within the continental United States. On August 1, 2025, the group began another active-duty order and was operating as a CONUS Support Base at Fort Bliss. The group's contemporary mission is built around command and coordination of sustainment units. The reported structure includes the 336th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Buckeye, Arizona; the 418th Quartermaster Battalion in Red Rock, Arizona; and the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Tustin, California. Subordinate organizations provide medium-truck transportation, palletized-load-system operations, petroleum support, movement control, field services, water purification and distribution, and ammunition support. Collectively, these capabilities allow the group to manage the logistical chain required for mobilization and deployed operations. The distinctive unit insignia consists of a gold-colored device featuring a black pheon, two gold lightning flashes, and a red scroll carrying the motto “INTEGRITY AND DETERMINATION.” The buff or gold and scarlet colors are associated with Army support formations. The pheon symbolizes the steel and aluminum industries near Moreno Valley, California, reflecting the group's original region, while the lightning flashes refer to the area's aerospace and electronics industries and convey technological energy and innovation.
- 2025
Renewed active-duty assignment
[1]The group entered another active military service period beginning August 1, 2025, operating as a CONUS Support Base at Fort Bliss.
- 2019
Fort Bliss CONUS Support Base mission
[1]The group served as a CONUS Support Base Headquarters at Fort Bliss from March 18, 2019, through March 16, 2020.
- 2009
Kuwait deployment
[1]The group deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from October 25, 2009, through November 28, 2010, to support sustainment operations in the U.S. Central Command region.
- 2007
Headquarters moved to Mesa
[1]The headquarters relocated to Mesa, Arizona, on July 16, 2007, establishing its current long-term base.
- 2006
Redesignation as the 653rd Regional Support Group
[1]On September 16, 2006, the organization adopted its current regional support group designation.
- 2004
Operation Iraqi Freedom mobilization
[1]The group entered active military service on May 17, 2004, for support connected with Operation Iraqi Freedom and returned to reserve status on May 16, 2006.
- 1999
Activation at March Air Reserve Base
[1]The organization was activated on April 16, 1999, at March Air Reserve Base, California, beginning its operational existence and readiness development.
- 1999
Distinctive unit insignia approved
[1]The group's distinctive unit insignia was approved on October 7, 1999. Its symbolism references the industries and support mission of the unit's original region.
- 1998
Constitution as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 653rd Support Group
[1]The unit was formally constituted in the Army Reserve on December 31, creating the organizational foundation for the modern 653rd Regional Support Group.
Products and positioning
A regional Army Reserve sustainment headquarters focused on reliable logistics, mobilization, deployment readiness, and support to expeditionary and domestic military operations.
Military logistics · 1998
Logistics and sustainment command
The group's central capability is command and coordination of Army Reserve sustainment formations. It integrates transportation, quartermaster, ordnance, petroleum, water, field-service, and movement-control activities to support mobilization, deployment, and ongoing military operations.
Military transportation
Transportation support
Subordinate transportation companies and detachments provide medium-truck, palletized-load-system, linehaul, and movement-control capabilities. These functions support the movement of personnel, equipment, fuel, supplies, and other sustainment cargo during domestic and expeditionary operations.
Quartermaster support
Petroleum and fuel support
Quartermaster formations within the group's structure provide petroleum support and petroleum liaison functions. Their missions are associated with receiving, managing, coordinating, and distributing fuel and related petroleum products for supported military organizations.
Quartermaster support
Water purification and distribution
The 968th Quartermaster Company is identified as a water purification and distribution formation. This capability supports the production and delivery of potable water in field environments and forms part of the group's broader sustainment portfolio.
Ordnance support
Ammunition and ordnance support
The group's reported subordinate structure includes an ordnance company assigned to ammunition support. This capability contributes to the safe handling, management, and logistical distribution of ammunition within supported operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Fort Bliss CONUS Support Base assignment
United States
Beginning August 1, 2025, the group was ordered into active military service and assigned to operate as a CONUS Support Base at Fort Bliss.
Outcome. The reference material describes this assignment as ongoing.
- 2019Operation Enduring Freedom CONUS support
United States
From March 18, 2019, through March 16, 2020, the group operated at Fort Bliss, Texas, as a CONUS Support Base Headquarters in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Outcome. The group completed the active-duty period and reverted to reserve status in March 2020.
- 2009Camp Arifjan sustainment deployment
Kuwait · U.S. Central Command area of responsibility
The group deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from October 25, 2009, through November 28, 2010, supporting sustainment operations across the regional command area.
Outcome. The deployment ended in November 2010 and the organization returned to reserve status.
- 2004Operation Iraqi Freedom support
United States · Iraq theater
The 653rd Support Group was ordered to active military service from May 17, 2004, through May 16, 2006, to perform support functions associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Outcome. The assignment concluded on May 16, 2006, after which the group reverted to Army Reserve status.
Brand decisions
2007
Relocation of headquarters to Mesa, ArizonaStrategyBackground
The group was originally activated at March Air Reserve Base in California and later established a new permanent headquarters location.
Action taken
The headquarters moved to Mesa, Arizona, on July 16, 2007.
Aftermath
Mesa became the group's principal headquarters while subordinate units continued operating in Arizona and California.
2006
Redesignation as a regional support groupStrategyBackground
The organization had originally been constituted as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 653rd Support Group. Its regional support role was subsequently formalized through a redesignation.
Action taken
The unit was redesignated the 653rd Regional Support Group on September 16, 2006.
Aftermath
The current name reflects its role as a headquarters coordinating sustainment formations across a regional footprint.
Sources1 sources
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