US Army Restructualization (ABN Units, etc.)

[2RHPZ]

It appears from this chart that the Army will stand up another separate Airborne Bde Combat Team in FY07 which will leave the Army with 2 Separate Airborne Bde's including the 173rd. It also show that the 173rd will be fully up to strength with two full Bn's by FY05 and the 82nd gets it's 4th Bde in FY06:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/images/bua-image1.gif
Do they name the new Separate Airborne Brigade Combat Team the 187th?

[2RHPZ]

More battalions, troops to boost 173rd Brigade

European edition, Sunday, July 25, 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. — The 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, will see a boost of 2,000 soldiers when, in two years, it becomes one of the Army’s restructured combat brigades.

In addition to two infantry battalions, the brigade will see an increase of military intelligence and signal personnel, engineers, and a support battalion, said Army officials who briefed reporters Friday on the next round of decisions regarding force structure basing for new Brigade Combat Team (Units of Action), or BCT(UA).

Operational requirements on the already stressed Army are forcing leaders to rapidly create and position these new units, which will be lighter, more agile and more rapidly deployable than the current brigades, said Brig. Gen. David Ralston, the Army’s operations director of force management.

The Army is “taking a risk” of creating four of the units at four stateside installations next year in advance of looming decisions of possible changes to be made during the next Base Realignment and Closure process in 2005.

“We’re taking a risk based on our needs, and if BRAC makes changes, the units might have to move again,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Rodney.

Here are the following stateside installations where newly restructured BCT(UA)s will move in fiscal 2005:
• A heavy unit will be formed at Fort Hood, Texas
• An infantry unit will be formed at Fort Polk, La.
• An infantry unit will be formed at Fort Richardson, Alaska
• The 2nd Cavalry Regiment will move from Fort Polk to Fort Lewis and become the 4th Stryker BCT

Then, in fiscal 2006, six more BCT(UA)s will be formed:
• A heavy unit will be formed at Fort Bliss, Texas
• An infantry unit will be formed at Fort Riley, Kan.
• An infantry unit will be formed at Fort Benning, Ga.
• An infantry unit will be formed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii
• The 5th Stryker BCT will be formed in Hawaii
• An airborne infantry unit will be formed at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Army is sticking with its “units of action” term in order to separate the new brigades from existing ones, and to place a tag on the uniquely structured combat brigades that are supposed to replace the service’s historical emphasis on huge, heavy divisions.

The Army has said it will cost about $20 billion over the next seven years to build the 43 new brigades in the active-duty force. Officials are planning for possibly boosting the number to 48, although Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has not given them the go-ahead, Ralston said.

Currently, the Army has 33 brigades that fall into seven categories in the active force, and there are 37 in the National Guard.

Eventually, all brigades, both active and Guard, will make the transformation to the new unit of action and will fall under one of the three types: heavy, infantry or Stryker. Generally, a heavy brigade will have 3,700 soldiers, an infantry brigade between 3,200 and 3,300 soldiers, and a Stryker brigade about 3,600 soldiers.

Three units were created this year and placed at Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Fort Campbell, Ky. Under force stabilization, brigades will train and fight together for up to three years. Army plans call for a 3- to 4-month “reset” window when a UA will first be gathered together, followed by a six-month group training cycle and then a 30-month period of “combat readiness,” which will probably include either a six-month or one-year deployment.

[Kampfbaer]

Just one question: Doesn't the US Army experience big problems filling the existing brigades.

I read in the media that the US Army has difficulties meeting the current recruitment targets, where do the newly needed soldiers come from? :roll:

[2RHPZ]

US Modular Brigade Force decisions

US Army; July 23, 2004

The Department of the Army announced today force structure basing decisions for the new brigade combat team (units of action) BCT(UA)s in fiscal years (FY) 2005 and 2006.

The temporary stationing of modular BCT(UA)s is critical to ensure the Army is properly postured to fully support its strategic commitments, including ongoing operations in support of the global war on terror. Additionally this allows the Army to continue its transformation to a campaign-quality force with joint and expeditionary capabilities that meet the future demands of the Combatant Commanders.

In FY 05, the Army will stand up and temporarily station new modular BCT(UA)s at Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Richardson, Alaska, and Ft Hood, Texas. As part of the decision, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, currently at Ft Polk, Louisiana, will move to Ft Lewis and convert to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

In FY 06, pending permanent stationing consistent with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) analysis in 2005, the Army will form and temporarily station BCT(UA)s at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort Riley, Kansas.

The locations were selected based on existing capacities, available training space, and current locations of similar units. The Army will revisit the locations of these units during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.

The new modular forces will be capable of operating across the entire range of military operations. As part of Army transformation, capabilities previously found within the divisions and corps will be shifted to the BCT(UA). These new brigades are the first conversions in army transformation and are designed to deploy/employ as independent units in support of the joint force.

On January 30, 2004, the Office of the Secretary of Defense approved increasing the number of active modular Brigade Combat Team Units of Action (BCT(UA)) from 33 to 43 between FY 04-06. In accordance with the Army Campaign Plan, the Army began converting to modular designs in FY 04 with three BCT(UA)s temporarily stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Fort Drum, New York. The FY 05-06 actions are a continuation of that effort.