Army FY2017 Force Structure Decisions
June 21, 2017
Army FY2017 Force Structure Decisions
Background
The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT)
(Airborne), 25th Infantry Division based at Joint Base
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Previous plans called
2017, P.L. 114-328, authorizes the Army to maintain an
for reducing this unit to a battalion task force-sized unit.
endstrength of 1.018 million soldiers, an increase over
previous programmed plans to reduce the Army to 980,000
A Combat Aviation Brigade in South Korea.
soldiers by the end of FY2018. FY2017 endstrength
authorizations are:
The 18th Military Police Brigade Headquarters in
Europe.
Regular Army: 476,000
The 206th Military Intelligence Battalion at Ft. Hood,
Army National Guard (ARNG): 343,000
Texas.
U.S. Army Reserve (USAR): 199,000
The 61st Maintenance Company in South Korea.
Given this increase in endstrength, the Army plans to
Create New Units
initiate the following force structure decisions (see
https://www.army.mil/article/189082/department_of_the_ar
The Army plans to both create new units and convert
my_announces_force_structure_decisions_for_fiscal_year_
existing units into new units. These include:
2017 for more information).
Converting the 2nd IBCT, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft.
Enhance Readiness
Stewart, Georgia, into an Armored Brigade Combat
The Army’s goal for units deploying on
Team (ABCT).
operations is that
these units have 100% of their authorized personnel
Creating two Security Force Assistance Brigades
available. This goal is often not achievable due to the
(SFABs)—one in the Active Component and one in the
Army-level inventory of soldiers—in both grade and
ARNG.
military occupational specialty (MOS)—available to be
assigned to units. In addition, soldiers assigned to units can
Creating an aviation training brigade at Ft. Hood, Texas.
become “non-deployable” and ineligible to participate in
operations for a variety of reasons. Some of the more
Creating three Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
common ones include medical (e.g., illness, injury,
battalions each with about 370 soldiers. The Army plans
pregnancy), conduct (e.g., incarceration, awaiting conduct
to station these battalions overseas.
discharge) or training (e.g., soldiers attending mandatory
occupational or leadership or academic training).
Creating a Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)
battalion consisting of about 465 soldiers and employing
In order to mitigate at least part of the non-deployable
problem, the Army plans to establish “Readiness
the Avenger system—a Stinger missile-based platform.
Enhancement Accounts” for both the Active (Regular) and
Other units to be created and stationed overseas include
Reserve (ARNG and USAR) components. This account is
a field artillery brigade headquarters with an organic
to consist of about 10,000 soldiers allowing the Army
brigade support battalion headquarters, a signal
Human Resources Command to ensure units are fully
company, two forward support companies, a theater
manned when deployed.
movement control element, a petroleum support
company, and an ammunition platoon.
In addition to the Readiness Enhancement Accounts at
Army-level, the Training and Doctrine Command
Potential Issues for Congress
(TRADOC) is to receive about 1,300 additional soldiers to
address manpower shortfalls in initial basic soldier training
Potential considerations for Congress include but are not
units and recruiting commands.
limited to:
Retain Units Previously Scheduled for
Other than establishing Readiness Enhancement
Deactivation
Accounts, what measures are being undertaken to
reduce soldier non-deployability?
The Army plans to retain a number of units previously
slated for deactivation. These include:
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Army FY2017 Force Structure Decisions
How does TRADOC plan to allocate its 1,300 additional What is the Army’s overseas stationing plan for its three
soldiers between basic training and recruiting, and how
new MLRS battalions and the SHORAD battalion as
will this impact overall force readiness?
well as the new headquarters and support units cited in
the previous section?
How long will it take before new units reach full
operational capability (FOC)?
Are there any associated military construction
(MILCON) requirements for these new units, including
What are some of the equipment challenges associated
requirements for training facilities and ranges?
with converting existing and creating new units? Legacy
systems such as the M-1A2 Abrams, M-270 MLRS, and
the Avenger SHORAD system are not in large-scale
active production so how does this impact plans to
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
activate these units?
IF10678
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Army FY2017 Force Structure Decisions
Disclaimer
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