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Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution stipulates, "The Congress shall have power ... to Power To ... raise and support Armies ... make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces ... for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel invasions."
It is the intent of Congress to provide an Army that is capable, in conjunction with the other armed forces, of—
(1) preserving the peace and security, and providing for the defense, of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States;
(2) supporting the national policies;
(3) implementing the national objectives; and
(4) overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States.
The Department of the Army (DA) is one of three military departments, along with the Navy and the Air Force, reporting to the Department of Defense (DOD), which is "using "a secondary Department of War designation" under Executive Order (EO) 14347 of September 5, 2025.
Army Composition
The Army is composed of two distinct components: the active component (AC) and the reserve component (RC). RCs are the Department of War (DOW)" as a "secondary title" under Executive Order 14347, dated September 5, 2025. The Army's primary mission is to fight and win the nation's ground wars. The Army is composed of four distinct components: the regular Active Component (AC), the reserve components of the United States Army Reserve (USAR), and the Army National Guard (ARNG). The department's Army Civilians (DAC) also play a significant supporting role (ARNG), and Department of the Army civilians (DAC). See Table 1.
|
Component |
Total |
Location |
|
AC |
448,276 | 396,586 / 51,690 398,860 / 56,537 |
|
USAR |
170,601 |
163, |
|
ARNG |
328,084 |
|
|
DAC |
223,386 | 212,364 / 11,018 182,409 / 9,266 |
Source: Defense Manpower Data Center, as of June 30, 2025.
Note: CONUS = Continental United States and OCONUS = Outside of the Continental United States (overseas).
The Department of the ArmyDA is led by a civilian Secretary of the Army appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of the Army reports to the Secretary of Defense, who is using "Secretary of War" as a "secondary title" under Executive Order 14347, datedEO 14347 of September 5, 2025, and serves as civilian oversight for the Army as an institution and the and Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA). The CSA is an administrative position held by a four-star Army general and is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. §7033). The CSA is the chief military advisor and deputy to the Secretary of the Army and, by statute (10 U.S.C. §151), serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The JCS is composed of DOD's (DOW's) senior uniformed leaders who advise the President, Secretary of Defense (War), and Cabinet officials on military issues.
The Secretary of the Army's and the Chief of Staff of the Army's authoritiesauthorities of the Secretary of the Army and the CSA are prescribed by law: 10 U.S.C. §7013 for the Secretary of the Army and 10 U.S.C. §7033 for the Chief of Staff of the Army, respectively. The CSA does not have operational command authority over deployed Army units. Under 10 U.S.C. §162, the operational chain of command runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense (War) and then to the commanders of the unified combatant commands, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJCS (CJCS) serving as the principal military advisor rather than a commander of forces. The CSA does, however, exercise supervision of Army units and organizations as designated by the Secretary of the Army. Under 10 U.S.C. §7074, the Secretary of the Army has authority to divide the Army into subordinate commands and organizations to accomplish the Army's mission.
Operational and Institutional Missions
[t]he operational Armyof the Secretary of the Army.
The operational Army, known as the Operational Force, consists of units that are trained, equipped, and ready to deploy. These forces make up about two-thirds of the Regular Army and three-fourths of the Total Army. The institutional Army supports the operational Army by generating, preparing, and sustaining the Army operating forces. Institutional forces do not normally deploy, but they perform other critical tasks like recruiting, servicing, educating, mobilizing, and constructing.The operational Army—known as the Operational Force—conducts or directly supports military operations and consists of numbered armies, corps, divisions, brigades, and battalions that conduct full-spectrum operations around the world. The institutional Army supports the operational Army. Institutional organizations provide the infrastructure necessary to raise, train, equip, deploy, and ensure the readiness of all Army forces.
and battalions. The majority of the Army is based in the continental United States (CONUS) relying on forward-stationed and rotational units outside the continental United States (OCONUS) to deter potential enemies, train allies, and defend against aggression if needed. The institutional Army supports the operational Army by providing the training, education, and logistics necessary "to raise, train, equip, deploy, and ensure the readiness of all Army forces." Army organizations whose primary mission is to generate and sustain the Operating Forces, such as the Army Materiel Command (AMC), for example, are part of what is known as the Generating Force.
There are three types of commands: Army Commands, Army Service ComponentsComponent Commands (ASCCs), and Direct Reporting Units (DRUs).
In May 2025, Army leadership announced the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), with one of its initiatives to optimize force structure. Included in ATI's plans is a merger of Army Futures Command (AFC) and Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) into a single command under a single headquarters. Also under ATI, Forces Command (FORSCOM) is to transform into Western Hemisphere Command through the consolidation of Army North and Army South.
As a result of ATI, the Army activated two new commands.
On October 1, 2025, the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) was established as an Army command under the jurisdiction of Headquarters, Department of the Army by consolidating TRADOC and AFC.
On December 5, 2025, the Army activated the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC) merging FORSCOM, U.S. Army North, and U.S. Army South into a single four-star headquarters. By February 2026, USAWHC is planned to reach initial operational capability (IOC) and full operational capability (FOC) by summer 2026. On December 2, 2025, the Army announced the following unit reassignments, effective December 5, 2025:
Army commands perform many Title 10 functions across multiple disciplines. At present, the three Army Commands include Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), and Army Material Command (AMC).
ASCCs are operational organizations aligned with combatant commands. The ASCC commander is responsible for advising the combatant commander on the allocation and employment of Army forces within the combatant command. There are nine ASCCs, with five ASCCs aligned with geographic combatant commands and the remaining four ASCCs aligned with functional combatant commands. According to the Army, as a result of ATI, these ASCCs are to include
Army commands perform many Title 10 functions across multiple disciplines. At present, the two Army Commands include the Army Material Command (AMC), which provides technology, acquisition, and logistics support to the Army, and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), which generates, develops, designs, and trains Army forces.
On October 1, 2026, the Acting Secretary of the Army directed the establishment of FASCOM. FASCOM is to be a three-star headquarters and expected to focus on autonomy in the areas of aviation, armor, fires, sustainment, engineering, and training.
ASCCs are "operational-level organizations that serve as the primary Army components for combatant commanders throughout the different geographical commands." The ASCC commander is responsible for advising the combatant commander on the allocation and employment of Army forces assigned to the combatant command. There are eight ASCCs:
DRUs have institutional or operational functions and provide broad, general support to the Army. According to the Army, the 13 DRUs includeAccording to the Army, as a result of ATI, these 15 DRUs are to include
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