View source for Strategic Army Corps

{{Short description|Former U.S. Army command with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
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|notable_commanders= LTG [[Robert Sink|Robert Frederick Sink]]<br />LTG [[Thomas J. H. Trapnell]]
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The '''Strategic Army Corps''' ('''STRAC''') was a command of the [[United States Army]], with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s. In 1961 it was merged into the [[United States Strike Command]] (STRICOM). The word "STRAC" was also used to describe a well organized, well turned-out soldier or unit.

==Background==
STRAC was a designation given to the [[XVIII Airborne Corps]] at [[Fort Bragg (North Carolina)|Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]], in 1958. The designation was, in reality, the assignment of an additional mission rather than a true designation. The additional mission was to provide a flexible strike capability that could deploy worldwide on short notice without declaration of an emergency. The [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Infantry Division]] at [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]], Washington, 
Combat Command A of the [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas, and the [[101st Airborne Division]] at [[Fort Campbell]], Kentucky, were designated as STRAC's first-line divisions, while the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]] at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas, and the [[82d Airborne Division]] at Fort Bragg were to provide backup in the event of general war. The 5th Logistical Command (later reflagged as 1st Logistical Command), also at Fort Bragg, would provide the corps with logistics support, while Fort Bragg's [[XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery]] would control artillery units.<ref name="STRAC">{{cite web|url=http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/MayJun05/airlift.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050729120118/http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/MayJun05/airlift.html|archive-date=2005-07-29|title=Airlift Operations During the Lebanon Crisis|author=Lieutenant Colonel Mark A. Olinger}}</ref>

Airlift assets were made available to U.S. forces based on the possible outbreak of a general war in Europe. In his paper, "Not War But Like War: The American Intervention in Lebanon", prepared for the Army Command and General Staff College's Combat Studies Institute, Roger J. Spiller notes:<ref name="STRAC"/>

{{cquote|The [[Military Air Transport Service]] could deliver up to 188 million ton-miles of mobility under the general war scenario, and it was calculated that the Army's part would come to 80&nbsp;million ton-miles of the total. From these figures, the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Major General Earle Wheeler, made the assumption that 'if the general war requirement could be met, it would seem likely that the limited war requirement of the Army could be met in most circumstances.'}}

==Operations==
Training included unidentified semi-annual maneuvers (Desert Strike, Swift Strike) with the 82nd and 101st Airborne held under the auspices of the XVIII and STRAC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=August 2003 Motopool Messenger |url=http://www.mtaofnj.org/newsletter/year_2003/nl_0803.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731044436/http://www.mtaofnj.org/newsletter/year_2003/nl_0803.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2016 |website=The Military Transport Association of North Jersey}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Hard New Attack Is Made in the Carolina War Games | website=The New York Times | date=1961-08-13 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/08/13/archives/hard-new-attack-is-made-in-the-carolina-war-games.html | access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref>

The [[3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States)|3d Armored Cavalry Regiment]] returned to the United States from Germany in February 1958, and was once again stationed at Fort Meade. The regiment became part of STRAC and, from 1958 to 1961, it was the recipient of four STRAC streamers, awarded for superior readiness and training. In reaction to the [[Berlin Crisis of 1961|Berlin Crisis]], the regiment redeployed to Germany in October 1961. Alerted for movement on 10 October, although scattered at different training sites along the Eastern Seaboard, the regiment arrived at its new duty stations of [[Baumholder]] and [[Kaiserslautern]] exactly thirty days later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Old Bill |url=http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_acr/docs/part_2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221124528/http://www.hood.army.mil/3d_acr/docs/part_2.pdf |archive-date=2007-02-21 |website=hood.army.mil}}</ref>

STRAC and the XVIII Airborne Corps provided the Army forces to the [[United States Navy|Navy]]'s [[United States Fleet Forces Command|CINCLANT]] as unified commander during the 1962 [[Cuban Missile Crisis]].

==Flexible response==
In September 1961, [[Fort Hood]] again became the home for the [[III Corps (United States)|III Corps]], and in February 1962, III Corps was assigned as part of the STRAC.<ref>[http://pao.hood.army.mil/Sub/Hood_History.htm army.mil]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>

In March 1962 the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]] was designated as a Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) unit. Following this the Division became engaged in intensified combat training, tactical training, and field training exercises, in addition to special training designed to improve operational readiness.{{Citation needed|date=May 2007}}

==Limitations==
Although the STRAC mission was to provide an easily deployable force for use in a limited war or other emergency, its ability to deploy overseas was limited by airlift constraints. Without the declaration of a national emergency, the required lift assets would not be released to support a STRAC deployment.<ref name="STRAC"/>

The Army faced problems with both the Air Force who would provide the expected transportation and from foreign governments for the expected use of their airspace and airports.<ref>p.240 O'Connell, Aaron B. ''Underdogs: The Making of the Modern Marine Corps'' Harvard University Press, 29 October 2012</ref>

==Other definitions==
STRAC is Army slang term for "a well organized, squared away soldier, (starched uniform, polished brass and spit-shined boots)"—a proud, competent trooper who can be depended on for good performance in any circumstance. The word was used both as a noun and an adjective<ref>Powell, Colin &  Persico, Joseph E ''A Soldier's Way: An Autobiography'' Random House, 31 July 2011</ref> for a soldier whose gear was clean and tight; weapon clean and ready; mind clear, organized, and ready for action. S: skilled T: tough R: ready A: around the C: clock—STRAC.<ref>p. 324 Taylor, E. Kelly ''America's Army and the Language of Grunts: Understanding the Army Lingo Legacy'' AuthorHouse, 12/11/2009</ref><ref>p.137 McVey, Alton ''Dancing With the Bear'' AuthorHouse, 12/09/2009</ref> Another version defined the acronym as "Sharp Trooper, Ready Around the Clock".
However, some soldiers joked it stood for "Shit! The Russians Are Coming!"<ref>p. 52 Langford, Martha & Langford, John ''A Cold War Tourist and His Camera'' McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 27 January 2011</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force]]
* [[United States Central Command]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.archives.arc.2569710|name=Big Picture: Airborne Soldier}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.archives.arc.2569718|name=Big Picture: Operation Danville}}

[[Category:Corps of the United States Army]]