Quartermaster Corps (United States Army)
The United States Army Quartermaster Corps, formerly the Quartermaster Department, is a Sustainment, formerly combat service support, branch of the United States Army. It is also one of three U.S. Army logistics branches, the others being the Transportation Corps and the Ordnance Corps.
The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps mission is to support the development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of general supply, Mortuary Affairs, subsistences, petroleum and water, material and distribution management during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Army. The officer in charge of the branch for doctrine, training, and professional development purposes is the Quartermaster General. The current Quartermaster General is Brigadier General Douglas M. McBride.
History
The Quartermaster Corps is the U.S. Army's oldest logistics branch, established 16 June 1775. On that date, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution providing for "one Quartermaster General of the grand army and a deputy, under him, for the separate army".In 1802 under President Thomas Jefferson the size of the US Army was reduced with the Quartermaster Department being disbanded. In its place the nation was divided into three departments, each with its own agent and subordinates who were responsible for quartermaster functions within each Department The Quartermaster Corps was re-established in 1812.
From 1775 to 1912, this organization was known as the Quartermaster Department. In 1912, Congress consolidated the former Subsistence, Pay, and Quartermaster Departments to create the Quartermaster Corps. Quartermaster units and soldiers have served in every U.S. military operation from the Revolutionary War to current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Insignia
- The Regimental Insignia was authorized in 1986 and revised in 1994 to the current insignia. The insignia is described as a gold color metal and enamel device 1 inch in height consisting of a gold eagle with wings spread and head lowered looking to his right and standing upon a wheel with a blue felloe set with thirteen gold stars, having thirteen gold spokes and the hub white with a red center; superimposed on the wheel a gold sword and key crossed diagonally hilt and bow up, all on a black background and resting upon a wreath of green laurel terminating at either side below the eagle's wings at the upper end of the sword and key. Attached below the device is a gold scroll inscribed SUPPORTING VICTORY in black. The original regimental insignia was all gold and approved on 31 March 1986. The design was changed on 7 June 1994 to add color to the insignia. The Regimental DUI is worn on the Soldier's right side above the name tag and any unit awards on the Army Service Uniform.
- The Branch Insignia was approved in its present form in 1913. The sword is characteristic of military forces and symbolized the Quartermaster Corps control of military supplies. The key is representative of the Corps traditional storekeeping function. The wheel is styled after a six-mule-wagon wheel and represents transportation and delivery of supplies. The wheel has thirteen spokes, a red and white hub and a blue felloe embedded with thirteen gilt stars. The thirteen stars and spokes of the wheel represent the original colonies and the origin of the Corps which occurred during the Revolutionary War. The gilt eagle is the national bird and is symbolic of our nation. The colors red, white and blue are the national colors. The Branch Insignia is worn on the lapel of the Army Service Uniform, singly on a brass disk for Enlisted personnel and in pairs for Officers.
Functions
The function of the Quartermaster Corps is to provide the following support to the Army:- general supply
- Mortuary Affairs
- subsistence
- petroleum and water
- field services
- * aerial delivery
- * shower, laundry, fabric/light textile repair
- material and distribution management
Former functions
- military transportation
- military construction
- U.S. Army Remount Service horses/war dogs
- military heraldry
Units
Quartermaster organizations include field service, general supply, petroleum supply and petroleum pipeline, aerial delivery, water, and mortuary affairs units. Most are company level except petroleum and water, which has battalion and group level units.
There is one Bulk petroleum Company on Active Duty.
Military Occupational Specialities
The nine Quartermaster Enlisted Military Occupational Specialties are:- 92A – Automated Logistical Specialist
- 92F – Petroleum Supply Specialist
- 92G – Culinary Specialist
- 92L – Petroleum Laboratory Specialist
- 92M – Mortuary Affairs Specialist
- 92R – Parachute Rigger
- 92S – Shower/Laundry and Clothing Repair Specialist
- 92W – Water Treatment Specialist
- 92Y – Unit Supply Specialist
- 920A – Property Accounting Technician
- 920B – Supply Systems Technician
- 921A – Airdrop Systems Technician
- 922A – Food Service Technician
- 923A – Petroleum Systems Technician
- 92A – Quartermaster, General
- R9 – Aerial Delivery and Materiel
- R8 – Petroleum and Water
Leadership / School
For a list of US Army Quartermaster Generals, see Quartermaster General.
In the media
The Quartermaster Corps provides a host of vital services to the U.S. Army. But, because these jobs are often not glamorous, very little is mentioned about Quartermaster soldiers in the mainstream media. The Global War on Terrorism and the 11 September attack on the Pentagon, as well as operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, have brought several Quartermasters briefly into the spotlight. Here are a few who have recently gained attention:- MAJ Steve V. Long, a Quartermaster Officer who was serving as Secretary of the General Staff Office of the Commanding General US Total Army Personnel Command, was one of the casualties of the 11 September 2001 attack on the Pentagon.
- Members of the 507th Maintenance Company which was ambushed at An Nasiriyah, Iraq, on 23 March 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom:
- *Sergeant Donald Walters, killed in action – Silver Star recipient
- *Specialist Edgar Hernandez, captured
- *SPC Shoshana Johnson, captured
- *Private First Class Howard Johnson II, killed in action
- *PFC Jessica Lynch, captured
- *PFC Lori Piestewa, killed in action
- *Private Brandon Sloan, killed in action
- *PVT Ruben Estrella-Soto, Jr, killed in action
- During Operation Desert Storm, the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, a U.S. Army Reserve unit from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, gained world-wide media exposure. The 14th suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit in the war due to a SCUD missile attack on 25 February 1991.
Quartermaster Creed
Military Order of Saint Martin
The Quartermaster Corps established this private order on 7 February 1997. The emblematic figure is of Saint Martin of Tours. The medal, for Quartermasters either on Active Duty, in the Reserves, or Civilian status, is awarded in three grades:- Ancient Order of Saint Martin
- Distinguished Order of Saint Martin
- Honorable Order of Saint Martin
The Military Order of Saint Martin is awarded by the Association of Quartermasters and not the United States Army.