Col. Christopher Hunter, deputy commander, 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, briefs soldiers as they embark on their culminating training exercise in February 2024 at Fort Knox, Ky. The 364th ESC will staff the 1st Theater Sustainment Command’s forward operational command post in Kuwait. (Barbara Gersna/U.S. Army)

The Army Reserve’s 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command has deployed to the Middle East.

The command, based in Marysville, Wash., recently deployed from Fort Cavazos, Texas, as part of a pre-planned, regular rotation of forces in support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, a 1st TSC news release said. The 364th ESC will replace the 13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command, which is based out of Fort Cavazos, as the 1st TSC’s operational command post in Kuwait.

The 1st Theater Sustainment Command is the only permanently deployed U.S. sustainment command in the Middle East and works alongside allies and regional security partners to provide joint logistics, human resources, finance, health service support and contracting capabilities, the release said.

Prior to deployment, the 364th in February trained alongside the 1st TSC and 34th Division Sustainment Brigade at 1st TSC’s main command post of Fort Knox, Ky. The command received additional mobilization training at Fort Cavazos in early April.

A soldier assigned to the 34th Division Sustainment Brigade, Illinois National Guard, qualifies with the M2 50-caliber machine gun during the unit’s culminating training exercise and associated mobilization and deployment, February 2024 at Fort Knox, Ky. Prior to deploying to the Middle East, the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in February trained alongside the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and 34th Division Sustainment Brigade at 1st TSC’s main command post of Fort Knox. ()

The command most recently deployed to the Middle East in 2011, helping to organize and execute the drawdown of approximately 68,000 U.S. troops from Iraq, the release said.

Tensions continue to rise in the Middle East following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. This has led to further conflict in the region with the Iranian proxy Houthi and Hezbollah groups. Most recently, Iran on Saturday fired more than 300 aerial munitions at Israel in an attack that was intercepted by U.S.-led forces.