New Army Reserve Unit Opens its Doors in Southern California

By Capt. Kalen Arreola
79th SSC PAO

COSTA MESA, Calif. – Warm weather and a cloudless sky greeted a new Army Reserve unit and a crowd of local community members during a change of command ceremony, establishing its presence in Southern California.

Col. Curtis D. Mattison, named commander of the 311th Signal Support Unit, whose headquarters is based in Fort Shafter, Hawaii, officially opened the unit’s doors on Nov. 8, 2009.

The unit was created as part of the Army’s transformation into a more mobile, operationally-driven force and will be bringing more than 120 high-tech, communications-related Army Reserve positions to Southern California.

The unit’s higher command, the 311th Theater Signal Command is a multi-component headquarters in Hawaii that provides information systems and capabilities to support military operations across the globe.

Soldiers from this new unit, and its Hawaii-based counterparts, will support organizations in the Pacific and Korean theaters. There are more than 1,900 active Army, Reserve and Civilians in the command, across 43 countries.

Leadership in attendance at the ceremony included Brig. Gen. Alan R. Lynn, commander, 311th Signal Command, and Brig. Gen. William Frink, commander, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.