Brigade Unit of Action

The Secretary of Defense approved an increase in the number of active modular BCTs from 33 to 43 on 30 January 2004. The Army intends to increase the number of Active Component brigades from 33 to 43 by fiscal year 2007. At that time, the Army will decide whether to continue the process to achieve 48 brigades, apparently by establishing five separate brigades.

During the same time period, Army National Guard Brigades will reorganize into 34 brigade-size units using the same modular design as the Active Component. This will entail standing down four existing brigades, and increasing the number of Enhanced readiness brigades from 15 to 22. It appears that the Separate Brigades are destined to be stood down, while the Strategic Brigades are to be retained. The end state will consist of 32 Brigade Units of Action [22 light and 10 heavy], 1 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and 1 Scout Group.

On 27 July 2005 the Department of the Army announced the locations for the active component modular Brigade Combat Teams. The modular design and their stationing are both critical to ensure the Army is properly postured to maintain the high degree of readiness needed to meet its strategic commitments, including ongoing operations globally in the war on terror. The decisions implementing the Defense Department’s Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy (IGPBS) recommendations, allowing the Army to return up to 50,000 soldiers from overseas locations by the end of the decade. Two key recommendations of the global force presence realignment decisions include the return of the 1st Infantry Division (1ID) to Fort Riley, KS and the relocation of the 1st Armored Division to Fort Bliss, Texas. The 1ID returns in Fiscal Year 2006 and the timing for the return of the 1AD is under review.

By the end of Fiscal Year 2006 the Army will stand up its first Future Force Unit of Action. This will be a brigade headquarters and at least one combat battalion, and will be equipped with Future Combat System prototypes. That unit will become the central point of experimentation,

The decision to implement resourcing of final 5 UAs subject to operational necessity and OSD approval. If this is implemented, the new units would include one additional heavy brigade for the 1st Armored Division, one additional heavy meachanized brigade for the 1st Infantry Division, two additional brigades for the 2nd Infantry Division, and an additional separate Airborne / Air Assault brigade to be stationed in Alaska.