The 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) (MCDS) or "Desert Medics" is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and manages all the Army Reserve deployable field medical units east of Ohio. While the 807th MCDS covers the MTOE medical units to the west and ARMEDCOM provides command and control for all the Table of Distribution and Allowance (TDA) medical units within CONUS. Units of the 3rd MCDS provide general, surgical, dental, ambulance, behavioral health, preventive maintenance, and veterinary support to Army units and to civilian populations.

Order of battle

World War II

Operation Desert Storm

Subordinate units

3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) is responsible for all operational reserve medical units east of the Mississippi river and in Louisiana.

Lineage

3rd Medical Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company was constituted 21 December 1928, in the Regular Army as the 3rd Auxiliary Surgical Group. Activated 5 May 1942, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Reorganized and redesignated 1 August 1945, as the 896th Medical Professional Service. Inactivated 6 October 1945, in Germany. Redesignated 16 March 1991, as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Medical Command. Activated in Saudi Arabia with personnel from Headquarters Company, 3rd Medical Command (Provisional) organized 16 September 1990 in Saudi Arabia. The ARCENT Medical Group (Provisional) was established on 5 or 6 December 1990 by ARCENT Permanent Order 262-1 (Dinackus writes 5 December 1990). On 29 December 1990 ARCENT Permanent Order 273-1 amended that order to create the United States Army Forces Central Command Medical Command (Provisional). It appears the order was issued on 26 March, to be made effective (implemented) on 29 December. In order to provide the additional staff required for Headquarters, ARCENT Medical Command (Provisional), the staff of the 202nd Medical Group, an Army National Guard unit from Florida, was combined with the staff of the ARCENT Medical Group (Provisional). On 5 March 1991, Forces Command Permanent Order 31-1 activated the 3rd Medical Command effective 15 March 1991. While not technically a re-designation, the personnel and equipment of the ARCENT Medical Command (Provisional) were 'reflagged' as the 3rd Medical Command.

Unit insignia

Shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI)

Description

Symbolism

Background

Distinctive unit insignia (DUI)

Description

Symbolism

Background

Unit honors

World War II

Southwest Asia

Global War on Terrorism

Iraq

Unit awards

Meritorious Unit Commendation: