Bush approves largest Army realignment since World War II
By THOM SHANKER, New York Times
Last update: December 19, 2007 - 10:08 PM
WASHINGTON - President Bush has approved what officials are describing as the most significant realignment of the Army since World War II, signing off on a plan that will keep more troops than previously envisioned in Europe and add large numbers of soldiers to bases in Colorado, Georgia and Texas, Army officials said Wednesday.
The basing plan is the final step in a detailed program for deciding where a larger Army will live and train in the years ahead, as it grows by 65,000 active-duty soldiers.
It significantly changes the military's footprint from before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and alters a global-basing plan adopted with great fanfare by the Pentagon in 2004.
The revised plan freezes previous orders for rapidly reducing Army forces in Europe by two heavy brigades scheduled to come home from Germany at least two years sooner than under the new program.
Now, one brigade will remain in Germany until 2012 and the other until 2013.
Even after the return of those two brigades to the United States, two brigades will remain in Europe, one in Germany and one in Italy, along with a large contingent of service and support personnel.
An Army brigade generally has between 2,500 and 4,200 soldiers. The size can vary depending on the type of unit. Heavy brigades usually are composed of mixed arms -- such as infantry, artillery and armor -- and may have helicopter components, depending on the mission.
Full basing plan
Altogether, the Army will maintain more than 37,000 troops in Europe.
The full basing plan for the United States, Europe and South Korea was presented to Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the Oval Office on Monday by Gen. Richard Cody, the Army vice chief of staff, and Army Secretary Pete Geren. It was driven by the president's approval to expand the Army by 74,000, including the Reserves, to meet the needs in Iraq and Afghanistan and to prepare for future threats.
Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; and Fort Bliss, Texas, each will receive two additional combat brigades. Additional support brigades will be based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort Polk, La.
"The Army is undergoing the largest transformational change since 1942," Cody said, as a full one-third of the Army will be based at different stations by 2011.
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