Reorganization plan of the United States Army

The reorganization plan of the United States Army is a current modernization (2017–2028) and reorganization (2006–2016) plan of the United States Army that was implemented (2006–2016) under the direction of Brigade Modernization Command.
This effort formally began in 2006 when General Peter Schoomaker (the 35th Army Chief of Staff), was given the support to move the Army from its Cold War divisional orientation to a full-spectrum capability with fully manned, equipped and trained brigades; this effort was completed by the end of 2016. It has been the most comprehensive reorganization since World War II and included modular combat brigades, support brigades, and command headquarters, as well as rebalancing the active and reserve components. The plan was first proposed by the Army's 34th Chief of Staff, Eric Shinseki, in 1999, but was bitterly opposed internally by the Army.

By 2020, the Army's 40th Chief of Staff was calling for transformational change, rather than incremental change by the Army.Jeff Marti
(24 Jan 2020) Video: Can the Army achieve ‘transformational change’? , Defense News Weekly full episode, Jan. 24, 2020
Army Chief of Staff: "We need transformational change", rather than incremental change. In 2021, Gen. McConville, the Army's 40th Chief of Staff, laid out Aimpoint 2035, a direction for the Army to achieve Corps-level Large-scale combat operations (LSCO) by 2035, with Waypoints from 2021 to 2028.Chief of Staff Paper #
(16 Mar 2021) Army Multi-Domain Transformation: Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict
/ref>U.S. Army Combined Arms Center/ U.S. Army Training and Doctrin
(6 Aug 2021) Waypoint 2028–2029
/ref>
In the fall of 2018, Army Strategy for the next ten years was articulated.The Army Strategy
2018 The strategy listed four Lines of Effort to be implemented. By 2021, the Army Posture Statement was
#People & values
# Readiness by 2022
# Modernization in the midterm around 2022
#Strengthen alliances and partnerships

By 2028, in Multi-Domain Operations ( MDO)—as part of the Joint force, Army Strategy is to counter a near-peer adversary which is capable of competition in all domains.US Arm
(2020) AMERICA’S ARMY: READY NOW,INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
FY19-21 accomplishments and investment planTodd South, Military Time
(8 May 2019) 4 things the general in charge of the Army's newest command says are needed to win the wars of the future
/ref>Anthony Small, U.S. Army Futures Comman
(March 13, 2019) Futures Command highlights changes, new structure at SXSW
"Synchronizing or creating convergence allows the joint force to create overmatch" —Eric Wesley William B Kin
(AMC) (18 February 2020) Conference focuses on Army modernization, equipping Soldiers
Equipping Enterprise (AMC) + Modernization Enterprise (AFC) In 2019, the planning was for Large Scale ground Combat Operations ( LSCO) at echelons above the brigade combat team.Jim Garamone, Defense.go
(August 9, 2019) Milley discusses Army changes as he passes authority
/ref>Secretary Mark Esper and Chief of Staff Mark Milley (MARCH 26, 2019) ON THE POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY
/ref> Multi-Domain Task Forces ( MDTFs) operate in a combatant commander's theater ( area of responsibility). MDTFs are experimental brigade-sized units which are tailored to the theater; they are to operate subordinate to a Theater fires command, or to a corps, or division headquarters, jointly or independently, depending on the mission.Sydney Freedberg, Jr
(27 April 2020) Army Rebuilds Artillery Arm For Large-Scale War
/ref> These MDTFs increase the "capability to connect with national assets" in space and cyber, with "the capacity to penetrate with long range fires, with the ability to integrate all domains". —This is ''integrated deterrence'':C Todd Lope
(21 Apr 2022) Austin to Host Meeting in Germany to Discuss Ukraine's Long-Term Defense Needs
integrate with allies and partnersJim Garamon
(5 Aug 2022) Austin Launches New Round of Discussions With Hemispheric Partners
taking existing capabilities, as well as building on §new capabilities, which have been deployed in new and networked ways, all tailored to the security landscape of the respective regions, in order to deter the antagonists.—Sec. Def. Lloyd Austin— Gen Charles Flyn
(12 Oct 2021) AUSA 2021 Warriors Corner – New Approaches, New Dilemmas and New Opportunities: U.S. Army Multi-Domain Land Power in the Indo-Pacific
See, sense, understand Indo-Pacom

Origin and initial design

Before General Schoomaker's tenure, the Army was organized around large, mostly mechanized divisions, of around 15,000 soldiers each, with the aim of being able to fight two major theatres simultaneously. Under the new plan, the Army would be organized around modular brigades of 3,000–4,000 soldiers each, with the aim of being able to deploy continuously in different parts of the world, and effectively organizing the Army closer to the way it fights. An additional 30,000 soldiers were recruited as a short-term measure to assist in the structural changes, although a permanent end-strength change was not expected because of fears of future funding cuts, forcing the Army to pay for the additional personnel from procurement and readiness accounts. Up to 60% of the defense budget is spent on personnel and an extra 10,000 soldiers would cost US$1.4 billion annually.

On November 22 and 23, 2002, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs held the "Belfer Center Conference on Military Transformation". It brought together present and former defense officials and military commanders for the stated purpose of assessing the Department of Defense's progress in achieving a "transformation" of U.S. military capabilities. The conference was held at the Belfer Center at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The United States Army War College and the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Security Series were co-sponsors. In some respects this could be said to have been the birthplace of Transformation as a formal paradigm.

In 2004, the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), which commands most active Army and Army Reserve Component forces based in the Continental United States, was tasked with supervising the modular transformation of its subordinate structure.

In March 2004, a contract was awarded to Anteon Corporation (now part of General Dynamics) to provide Modularity Coordination Cells (MCCs) to each transforming corps, division and brigade within FORSCOM. Each MCC contained a team of functional area specialists who provided direct, ground-level support to the unit. The MCCs were coordinated by the Anteon office in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2007 a new deployment scheme known as Grow the Army was adopted that enabled the Army to carry out continuous operations.
The plan was modified several times including an expansion of troop numbers in 2007 and changes to the number of modular brigades.
On 25 June 2013, plans were announced to disband 13 modular brigade combat teams (BCTs) and expand the remaining brigades with an extra maneuver battalion, extra fires batteries, and an engineer battalion.

In 2009 an 'ongoing campaign of learning' was the capstone concept for force commanders, meant to carry the Army from 2016 to 2028.TRADOC (21 Dec 2009) The Army Capstone Concept
TRADOC Pam 525-3-0
;New capabilities
In the summer of 2018, the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC),David Vergun, Army News Servic
(December 8, 2017) US Army Futures Command to reform modernization, says secretary of the Army
*US Arm
Army Directive 2017–33: Enabling the Army Modernization Task Force
/ref>AF
AFC announcement, Friday (13 July 2018) Army Officials Announce New Army Command
video 34 minutes, 27 seconds a new Army command for modernization was activated.US Army
Modernization turnaround worth the effort, says acting SecArmy McCarthy
/ref>Army Time
Army's modernization command taking shape under freshly picked leaders
/ref> The modernization effort, coordinated with US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), US Army Materiel Command (AMC), and US Army Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC), addresses the long lead timesCol. Richard Houg
(4 January 2018) Opinion: "Army's Basic Illusions Gone; Time For Futures Command" ''Breaking Defense.com''
/ref> for introducing new materiel and capabilities into the brigades of the Army.Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(April 8, 2019) Acquisition reform requires culture shift, officials say
/ref> Michael A. Grinston, James C. McConville, and Ryan McCarthybr>(October 2019) 2019 Army Modernization Strategy
as cited by Sydney Freedberg, Jr
(October 16, 2019) Army Launches 16-Year Plan To Tackle Russia, China
Summary This planned Joint capability was demonstrated to the Combatant commanders (who are the "customers" for the capability) and the Joint Chiefs (who advise the government on the importance of this effort) at WSMR (White Sands Missile Range) in September 2020,THERESA HITCHEN
(23 September 2020) Picking 1st ABMS Capabilities A Top Issue At Air Force Corona
in Nov 2020 at Air Force Academy in an ongoing campaign for achieving integrated deterrence. By 2020 Project Convergence, a campaign of learning, was pressed into service at Yuma Proving Ground, in the Army's campaign to modernize, by experimental prototype and demonstration of a networking concept; Project Convergence 2021 ( PC21)Gen Mike Murray (12 Oct 2021) AUSA 2021: CMF #3 – Project Convergence
2021: 7 capstone cases was then a vehicle for the entire DoD, in its Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC) demonstration of Joint all-domain command and control ( JADC2).Patrick Tucke
(10 Nov 2021) What Worked, What Didn't at Army’s Second Connect-Everything Experiment
PC21Andrew Eversde
(22 Nov 2021) Robotic vehicles, drones coordinate recon at Army’s Project Convergence 21
ISR relay PC22 (Project Convergence 2022) now has a website for candidate entries,Angie Sarantino
(17 Sep 2021) Project Convergence 2022 web portal links industry, academia to Army
/ref> even as PC21 was underway in 2021. Analysis is underway in FY2022 to balance modernization and readiness going forward.Andrew Eversde
(11 Oct 2021) Army Kicks Off Analysis Effort To Inform Future Investments
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(11 Oct 2021) Murray: Army’s Modernization Push Requires Persistence To Be Successful
/ref>

History of "Army Force Generation" (ARFORGEN)

The Secretary of the Army approved implementing "Army Force Generation" (ARFORGEN), a transformational force generation model, in 2006
2010 Army Posture Statement, Addendum F, Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN)

ARFORGEN model concept development began in the summer of 2004 and received its final approval from the Army's senior leadership in early 2006.Henry S. Kenyo
(June 2006) U.S. Army Reforges Training and Readiness.
/ref>

FORSCOM, Department of the Army AR 525-2
Military Operations, Army Force Generation, 14 Mar 2011

In 2016 the Army force generation process ARFORGEN was sidelined because it relied mostly on the Active Army, in favor of the total force policy, which includes the Reserve and National Guard; in the new model, the total force could have fallen to 980,000 by 2018,Soldiers need to be ready 100 percent of time, says FORSCOM commander
Army.mil, accessdate=2016-06-05 subject to DoD's Defense Strategic Guidance to the Joint Staff. By 15 June 2017, the Department of the Army approved an increase in the Active Army's end-strength from 475,000 to 476,000. The total Army end-strength increases to 1.018 million.Department of the Army announces force structure decisions for fiscal year 2017
accessdate=2017-06-25
*Global security.org

accessdate=2017-02-02

Planning process, evolution, and transformation

The commander-in-chief directs the planning process, through guidance to the Army by the Secretary of Defense.Robert M. Gate
(5 Jan 2012) "Defense Strategic Guidance"
Every year, Army Posture Statements by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army summarize their assessment of the Army's ability to respond to world events,HQD
McHugh & Odierno, A STATEMENT ON THE POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 2015
, Army.mil, accessdate=2016-06-05Do
2017 DoD Posture Defense Statement
/ref> and also to transform for the future.Army.mi
Mission of the U.S. Army
accessdate=2016-09-11 In support of transformation for the future, TRADOC, upon the advice of the Army's stakeholders, has assembled 20 warfighting challenges.ARCI
Army Warfighting Challenges (AWFCs)
accessdate=2016-10-25 These challenges are under evaluation during annual Army warfighting assessments, such as AWA 17.1, held in October 2016. AWA 17.1 was an assessment by 5,000 US Soldiers, Special Operations Forces, Airmen, and Marines,TRADOC New
THE EVOLUTION OF THE ARMY WARFIGHTING ASSESSMENT
as well as by British, Australian, Canadian, Danish, and Italian troops.US Arm
Army tests new warfighting tech at Army Warfighting Assessment
accessdate=2016-10-23US Arm
Special Operations Forces integrate into AWA 17.1
accessdate=2016-10-28US Arm
AWA 17.1: Increasing the pace of battle in a coalition environment
accessdate=2016-10-29A RIC-U might be used by a coalition partner to encrypt their individual networks, when interoperating with a US Army voice network. For example, "reach-back" is among the capabilities being assessed; when under attack in an unexpected location, a Soldier on the move might use Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T). At the halt, a light Transportable Tactical Command Communications (T2C2 Lite) system ASA(ALT) Weapon System Handbook (2018
Transportable Tactical Command Communications (T2C2)
/ref>Spc. Matthew Marcellus, 1st Armored Division. Communications in Motion: (15 May 2019) Iron Soldiers train on inflatable satellite communications system T2C2 http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/05/15/communications-in-motion-iron-soldiers-train-on-inflatable-satellite-communications-system-t2c2/ Mark Pomerlea
(March 23, 2018) The Army's newest satellite antenna is remarkably simple
/ref>Mr. Joe Welch, Lt. Col. Jack "Shane" Taylor and Mr. Michael Beer
(July 12, 2016) Network Marketplace: Open for Business and Growing
/ref> could reach back to a mobile command post, to communicate the unexpected situation to higher echelons,US Arm
Army prepares to test enhanced network operation tools at NIE 16.2
accessdate=2016-11-05US Arm
Future warfighting calls for semi-independent units, empowered leaders
accessdate=2017-02-16
a building block in multi-domain operations."We are going to have to empower nddecentralize leadership to make decisions and achieve battlefield effects in a widely dispersed environment where subordinate leaders, junior leaders ... may not be able to communicate to their higher headquarters, even if they wanted to", Milley said. C. Todd Lopez, Army News Service
(May 5, 2017) Future warfare requires 'disciplined disobedience,' Army chief says
accessdate=2017-05-05
US Arm
Army, Marine leaders bring multi-domain concept closer to reality
accessdate=2017-02-16
*US Arm
Air Force may join Army in refining multi-domain concept
accessdate=2017-03-18

Implementation and current status

Grow the Army was a transformation and re-stationing initiative of the United States Army which began in 2007 and was scheduled to be completed by fiscal year 2013. The initiative was designed to grow the army by almost 75,000 soldiers, while realigning a large portion of the force in Europe to the continental United States in compliance with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure suggestions. This grew the force from 42 Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) and 75 modular support brigades in 2007 to 45 Brigade Combat Teams and 83 modular support brigades by 2013.

On 25 June 2013, 38th Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno announced plans to disband 13 brigade combat teams and reduce troop strengths by 80,000 soldiers. While the number of BCTs will be reduced, the size of remaining BCTs will increase, on average, to about 4,500 soldiers. That will be accomplished, in many cases, by moving existing battalions and other assets from existing BCTs into other brigades. Two brigade combat teams in Germany had already been deactivated and a further 10 brigade combat teams slated for deactivation were announced by General Odierno on 25 June. (An additional brigade combat team was announced for deactivation 6 November 2014.) At the same time the maneuver battalions from the disbanded brigades will be used to augment armored and infantry brigade combat teams with a third maneuver battalion and expanded brigades fires capabilities by adding a third battery to the existing fires battalions. Furthermore, all brigade combat teams—armored, infantry and Stryker—will gain a Brigade Engineer Battalion, with "gap-crossing" and route-clearance capability.US Army

On 6 November 2014, it was reported that the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, currently stationed in South Korea, was to be deactivated in June 2015 and be replaced by a succession of U.S.-based brigade combat teams, which are to be rotated in and out, at the same nine-month tempo as practiced by the Army from 2001 to 2014.

Eleven brigades were inactivated by 2015. The remaining brigades as of 2015 are listed below. On 16 March 2016, the Deputy Commanding General (DCG) of FORSCOM announced that the brigades would now also train to move their equipment to their new surge location as well as to train for the requirements of their next deployment.
DoD New
(July 9, 2015) Army Announces Force Structure, Stationing Decisions
/ref>

By 2018, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper noted that even though the large deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan had ceased, at any given time, three of the Armored Brigade Combat Teams are deployed to EUCOM, CENTCOM, and INDOPACOM, respectively, while two Infantry Brigade Combat Teams are deployed to Iraq, and Afghanistan, respectively.US Arm
(23 April 2018) Army Secretary Esper, senior NCO Dailey discuss modernization, recruiting, retention
/ref>

In 2019 the Secretary of the Army asserted that the planning efforts, including Futures Command, the SFABs, and the Decisive Action readiness training of the BCTs are preparing the Army for competition with both near-peer and regional powers.Sydney J Freedberg J
(May 20, 2019) Army Can Manage Both Mideast & Great Powers: Sec. Esper
/ref>Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(May 28, 2019) South Korean exercises being revised amid peace talks
Abrams USFK assessment The Army and Marine Corps have issued "clear explanations and guidance for the 429 articles of the Geneva Conventions".Joseph Lacda
(22 January 2020) Army updates Law of Land Warfare doctrine to increase guidance, clarity
/ref>US Army FM 6-27, C
(20 September 2019) THE COMMANDER'S HANDBOOK ON THE LAW OF LAND WARFARE
208 page handbook. The ''Department of Defense Law of War Manual'' (June 2015, updated December 2016) remains the authoritative statement

The Budget Control Act could potentially restrict funds by 2020. By the 2024–2025 time frame, the Fiscal Year Development Plan (FYDP) will have reallocated $10 billion more into development of the top 6 modernization priorities, taking those funds from legacy spending budgets.Sydney J Freedberg J
(May 29, 2019) Army Big 6 Gets $10B More Over 2021–2025
/ref>

Reorganization plans by unit type

The Army has now been organized around modular brigades of 3,000–4,000 soldiers each, with the aim of being able to deploy continuously in different parts of the world, and effectively organizing the Army closer to the way it fights. The fact that this modernization is now in place has been acknowledged by the renaming of the 'Brigade Modernization Command' to the "U.S. Army Joint Modernization Command," on 16 February 2017.BMC redesignated JMC, New Name Better Reflects Evolving Organizational Mission
accessdate=2017-02-16

By 2021 the Army of 2030 was envisioned to consist of Brigades for the close fight, Divisions for Large scale combat operations, Corps for enduring, sustained operations, and Theater-scale commands.

Modular combat brigades

Modular combat brigades are self-contained combined arms formations.Field Manual No. 3-96 (8 October 2015) Brigade Combat Team
FM 3-9
updated 19 Jan 2021
/ref>Headquarters, Department of the Arm
(1 October 2022) FM 3-0 OPERATIONS
280 pages They are standardized formations across the active and reserve components, meaning an Armored BCT at Fort Hood is the same as one at Fort Stewart.One consequence of a standardized BCT is that actions performed by one BCT can be made in behalf of a successor BCT. Thus pre-positioned stocks can aid in the rapidity of deployment
Army Prepositioned Stocks site in the Netherlands was established 15 Dec 2016, which will store and service about 1,600 U.S. Army vehicles

U.S. military equipment to arrive in Germany, 6-9 Jan 2017Tank Brigade (3ABCT/4th ID) sets quick pace moving to EuropeSoldiers Journal: Rolling Into Europe (3ABCT/4th ID)
/ref>

Reconnaissance plays a large role in the new organizational designs. The Army felt the acquisition of the target was the weak link in the chain of finding, fixing, closing with, and destroying the enemy. The Army felt that it had already sufficient lethal platforms to take out the enemy and thus the number of reconnaissance units in each brigade was increased.The Army is introducin
drones
in its combat aviation brigades in order to increase its reconnaissance capability.
(May 3, 2015) Apache helicopter squadron is the first unit to incorporate Shadow drones
/ref> The brigades sometimes depend on joint fires from the Air Force and Navy to accomplish their mission. As a result, the amount of field artillery has been reduced in the brigade design.

The three types of BCTs are Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs), Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) (includes Light, Air Assault and Airborne units), and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs).

Armored Brigade Combat Teams, or ABCTs consist of 4,743 troops. This includes the third maneuver battalion as laid out in 2013. The changes announced by the U.S. army on 25 June 2013, include adding a third maneuver battalion to the brigade, a second engineer company to a new Brigade Engineer Battalion, a third battery to the FA battalion, and reducing the size of each battery from 8 to 6 guns. These changes will also increase the number of troops in the affected battalions and also increase the total troops in the brigade. Since the brigade has more organic units, the command structure includes a deputy commander (in addition to the traditional executive officer) and a larger staff capable of working with civil affairs, special operations, psychological operations, air defense, and aviation units. An Armored BCT consists of:
* the brigade headquarters and headquarters company ( HHC): 43 officers, 17 warrant officers, 125 enlisted personnel – total: 185 soldiers.
* the Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB) (formerly Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB)), consisted of a headquarters company, signal company, military intelligence company with a TUAV platoon and two combat engineer companies (A and B company). The former BSTB fielded 28 officers, 6 warrant officers, 470 enlisted personnel – total: 504 soldiers. Each of the combat engineer company fields 13× M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) Operation Desert Storm-Engineer (ODS-E), 1× M113A3 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), 3× M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV), 1× M9 Armored Combat Earthmover (ACE), and 2× M104 Heavy Assault Bridge (HAB).
* a Cavalry (formerly Armed Reconnaissance) Squadron, consisting of a headquarters troop (HHT) and three reconnaissance troops and one armored troop. The HHT fields 2× M3A3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicles (CFVs) and 3× M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Vehicles, while each reconnaissance troop fields 7× M3A3 CFVs. The squadron fields 35 officers and 385 enlisted personnel – total: 424 soldiers.
* three identical combined arms battalions, flagged as a battalion of an infantry, armored or cavalry regiment. Each battalion consists of a headquarters and headquarters company, two tank companies and two mechanized infantry companies. The battalions field 48 officers and 580 enlisted personnel each – total: 628 soldiers. The HHC fields 1× M1A2 main battle tank, 1× M2A3 infantry fighting vehicle, 3× M3A3 cavalry fighting vehicles, 4× M7A3 fire support vehicles and 4× M1064 mortar carriers with M120 120 mm mortars. Each of the two tank companies fields 14× M1A2 main battle tanks, while each mechanized infantry company fields 14× M2A3 infantry fighting vehicles. In 2016, the ABCT's combined arms battalions adopted a triangle structure, of two armored battalions (of two armored companies plus a single mechanized infantry company) plus a mechanized infantry battalion (of two mechanized companies and one armored company). This resulted in the reduction of two mechanized infantry companies; the deleted armored company was reflagged as a troop to the Cavalry Squadron.
* a Field Artillery battalion, consisting of a headquarters battery, two cannon batteries with 8× M109A6 self-propelled 155 mm howitzers each (the changes announced by the U.S. Army on 25 June 2013, include adding a third battery to the FA battalion, and reducing the size of each battery from 8 to 6 guns; these changes also increase the number of troops in the affected battalions and also increase the total troops in the Brigade), and a target acquisition platoon. 24 officers, 2 warrant officers, 296 enlisted personnel – total: 322 soldiers.
* a brigade support battalion (BSB),Lt. Col. Mike Hammond (July 18, 2019) In Search of Synchronized Tactical Logistics
The BSB Commander is responsible for "field trains command post (FTCP) and combat trains command post (CTCP) operations". —Army Field Manual 3-96 consisting of a headquarters, medical, distribution and maintenance company, plus six forward support companies, each of which support one of the three combined arms battalions, the cavalry squadron, the engineer battalion and the field artillery battalion. 61 officers, 14 warrant officers, 1,019 enlisted personnel – total: 1,094 soldiers.

Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or IBCTs, comprised around 3,300 soldiers, in the pre-2013 design, which did not include the 3rd maneuver battalion. The 2013 end-strength is now 4,413 Soldiers:
* Special Troops Battalion (now Brigade Engineer Battalion)
* Cavalry Squadron
* (2), later (3) Infantry Battalions
* Field Artillery Battalion
* Brigade Support Battalion

Stryker Brigade Combat Team or SBCTs comprised about 3,900 soldiers, making it the largest of the three combat brigade constructs in the 2006 design, and over 4,500 Soldiers in the 2013 reform.
Its design includes:
* Headquarters Company
* Cavalry Squadron (with three 14-vehicle, two-120 mm mortar reconnaissance troops plus a surveillance troop with UAVs and NBC detection capability)
* (3) Stryker infantry battalions (each with three rifle companies with 12 infantry-carrying vehicles, 3 mobile gun platforms, 2 120 mm mortars, and around 100 infantry dismounts each, plus an HHC with scout, mortar and medical platoons and a sniper section.)
* Engineer Company (folded into the Brigade Engineer Battalion) n additional engineer company was added to the battalion in the 2013 reform* Signal Company (folded into the Brigade Engineer Battalion)
* Military Intelligence Company (with UAV platoon) (folded into the Brigade Engineer Battalion)
* Anti-tank company (9 TOW-equipped Stryker vehicles) (folded into the Brigade Engineer Battalion)
* Field Artillery Battalion (three 6-gun 155 mm Howitzer batteries, target acquisition platoon, and a joint fires cell)
* Brigade Support Battalion (headquarters, medical, maintenance, and distribution companies)

Modular support brigades

Combat support brigades

Similar modularity will exist for support units which fall into five types: Aviation, Fires (artillery), Battlefield Surveillance (intelligence), Maneuver Enhancement (engineers, signal, military police, chemical, and rear-area support), and Sustainment (logistics, medical, transportation, maintenance, etc.). In the past, artillery, combat support, and logistics support only resided at the division level and brigades were assigned those units only on a temporary basis when brigades transformed into "brigade combat teams" for particular deployments.

Combat Aviation Brigades are multi-functional, offering a combination of attack helicopters (i.e., Apache), reconnaissance helicopters (i.e., Kiowa), medium-lift helicopters (i.e., Blackhawks), heavy-lift helicopters (i.e., Chinooks), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) capability. Aviation will not be organic to combat brigades. It will continue to reside at the division-level due to resource constraints.

Heavy divisions (of which there are six) will have 48 Apaches, 38 Blackhawks, 12 Chinooks, and 12 Medevac helicopters in their aviation brigade. These are divided into two aviation attack battalions, an assault lift battalion, a general aviation support battalion. An aviation support battalion will have headquarters, refuelling/resupply, repair/maintenance, and communications companies. Light divisions will have aviation brigades with 60 armed reconnaissance helicopters and no Apaches, with the remaining structure the same. The remaining divisions will have aviation brigades with 30 armed reconnaissance helicopters and 24 Apaches, with the remaining structure the same. Ten Army Apache helicopter units will convert to heavy attack reconnaissance squadrons, with 12 RQ-7B Shadow drones apiece. The helicopters to fill out these large, combined-arms division-level aviation brigades comes from aviation units that used to reside at the corps-level.

Field Artillery Brigades (formerly known as "Fires Brigades" prior to 2014) provide traditional artillery fire ( Paladin Howitzer, M270 MLRS, HIMARS) as well as information operations and non-lethal effects capabilities. After the 2013 reform, the expertise formerly embodied in the pre-2007 Division Artillery (DIVARTY) was formally re-instituted in the Division Artillery Brigades of 2015. The operational Fires battalions will now report to this new formulation of DIVARTY, for training and operational Fires standards, as well as to the BCT.Spc. Matthew Marcellus, 1st Armored Division (MAY 15, 2019) Agile and lethal: 4-27 Field Artillery conducts Table XVIII gunnery training May 7
accessdate=2019-08-11

Air Defense: The Army will no longer provide an organic air defense artillery (ADA) battalion to its divisions. Nine of the ten active component (AC) divisional ADA battalions and two of the eight reserve (ARNG) divisional ADA battalions will deactivate. The remaining AC divisional ADA battalion along with six ARNG divisional ADA battalions will be pooled at the Unit of Employment to provide on-call air and missile defense (AMD) protection. The pool of Army AMD resources will address operational requirements in a tailorable and timely manner without stripping assigned AMD capability from other missions. Maneuver short-range air defense ( MSHORAD)Gary Sheftick, Army News Service (March 13, 2019) FY20 budget to boost air & missile defense
/ref> with laser cannon prototypes are fielding by 2020.

Maneuver Enhancement Brigades are designed to be self-contained, and will command units such as chemical, military police, civil affairs units, and tactical units such as a maneuver infantry battalion. These formations are designed to be joint so that they can operate with coalition, or joint forces such as the Marine Corps, or can span the gap between modular combat brigades and other modular support brigades.In the 2013 reform
the active duty brigades are deactivating by 2015, leaving only the National Guard's, and the Reserve's, maneuver enhancement brigades.
/ref>

Sustainment Brigades provide echelon-above-brigade-level logistics. On its rotation to South Korea, 3rd ABCT, 1st Armored Division deployed its supply support activity (SSA) common authorized stockage list (CASL)Lt. Col. Fenicia L. Jackson, Capt. Karina Cuenca, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Austin (October 1, 2019) Early results testing the new CASL at NTC improves readiness
/ref> as well.Lt. Col. Charles L. Montgomery (April 1, 2019) Deploying an SSA's CASL for an armored brigade combat team
/ref> The CASL allows the ABCT to draw additional stocks beyond its pipeline of materiel from GCSS-A. The DoD-level Global Combat Support System includes an Army-level tool (GCSS-A), which runs on tablet computers with bar code readers which 92-A specialists use to enter and track materiel requests, as the materiel makes its way through the supply chain to the brigades.(31 May 2018) Additional supply system focus boosts student knowledge of new technology
/ref> This additional information can then be used by GCSS-A to trigger resupply for Army pre-positioned stocks, typically by sea. The data in GCSS-Army is displayed on the Commander's Dashboard —Army Readiness-Common Operating Picture (AR-COP).Maj. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, Brig. Gen. Heidi J. Hoyle, and Percy Alexander (4 November 2019) Building the Army Readiness-Common Operating Picture
/ref> This dashboard is also available to the Commander at BCT, division, corps, and Army levels.

The former Battlefield Surveillance Brigades, now denoted ''Military Intelligence Brigades (Expeditionary)'', will offer additional UAVs and long-term surveillance detachments. Each of the three active duty brigades is attached to an Army Corps.

Security Force Assistance Brigades

Security force assistance brigades (SFABs) are brigades whose mission is to train, advise, and assist (TAA) the armed forces of other states. The SFAB are neither bound by conventional decisive operations nor counter-insurgency operations. Operationally, a 500-soldier SFAB would free-up a 4500-soldier BCT from a TAA mission.
On 23 June 2016 General Mark Milley revealed plans for train/advise/assist Brigades, consisting of seasoned officers and NCOs with a full chain of command,Priorities for Our Nation's Army with General Mark A. Milley
(23 Jun 2016) but no junior Soldiers. In the event of a national emergency the end-strengths of the SFABs could be augmented with new soldiers from basic training and advanced individual training.

An SFAB was projected to consist of 500 senior officers and NCOs, which, the Army says, could act as a cadre to reform a full BCT in a matter of months. In May 2017, the initial SFAB staffing of 529 soldiers was underway, including 360 officers. The officers will have had previous command experience. Commanders and leaders will have previously led BCTs at the same echelon. The remaining personnel, all senior NCOs, are to be recruited from across the Army.Lolita C. Baldo

accessdate=2017-05-05 Promotable E-4s who volunteer for the SFAB are automatically promoted to Sergeant upon completion of the Military Advisor Training Academy. A team of twelve soldiers would include a medic, personnel for intelligence support, and air support,Jaffe and Rya
(21 January 2018), ''Washington Post'' Up to 1,000 more U.S. troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring
/ref> as cited by Keller.US Arm
Security Force Assistance Brigade (2 May 2018) ATP 3-96.1
152 pages

These SFABs would be trained in languages, how to work with interpreters,Capt. John Ma
(November 27, 2017) Military Advisor Training Academy prepares 1st SFAB as combat advisors
/ref> and equipped with the latest equipmentJared Serb
(August 24, 2018) Army experimenting with SOF-tested equipment while building long-term tactical network plan
/ref> such as Integrated Tactical Network (ITN)Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(July 18, 2019) Futures Command showcases efforts ahead of upcoming FOC
ITN for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd SFABs using T2C2 systemsKimberly Underwoo
(20 August 2018) U.S. Army Fields Inflatable Satellite Antenna
/ref>US Arm
(December 21, 2017) Equipping SFABs: A 'Rubik's Cube' of logistics
over 5,000 pieces of equipment including secure, but unclassified, communicationsBridget Lynch & Greg Hall, PEO C3T Public Affair
(September 5, 2018)
*U.S. Army PEO C3
(September 21, 2018) Army Awards 2-Channel Leader Radio Contract
/ref> and weapons to support coalition partners,Mennes, AUS
(16 October 2017) AUSA Video clip, Warriors corner #9: All things Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), part of the article, "First security force assistance brigade training for deployment"
/ref> as well as unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).U.S. Arm
(6 December 2017) Eyes in the Sky with 1st SFAB
/ref> The first five SFABs would align with the Combatant Commands (SOUTHCOM, AFRICOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, and USINDOPACOM, respectively); an SFAB could provide up to 58 teams (possibly with additional Soldiers for force protection).

Funding for the first two SFABs was secured in June 2017. By October 2017, the first of six planned SFABs (the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade)U.S. Army was established at Fort Benning.U.S. Arm
Army creates Security Force Assistance Brigade and Military Advisor Training Academy at Fort Benning
accessdate=2017-02-24
On 16 October 2017, BG Brian Mennes of Force Management in the Army's G3/5/7 announced accelerated deployment of the first two SFABs, possibly by Spring 2018 to Afghanistan and Iraq, if required. This was approved in early July 2017, by the 27th Secretary of Defense and the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army. On 8 February 2018, 1st SFAB held an activation ceremony at Fort Benning, revealing its colors and heraldry for the first time, and then cased its colors for the deployment to Afghanistan.U.S. Arm
(9 February 2018) 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade holds activation ceremony
/ref> 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in Spring 2018.U.S. Army Public Affairs (January 11, 2018) Department of the Army announces upcoming deployment of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade
/ref>

On 8 December 2017, the Army announced the activation of the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade,Army announces activation of second Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Bragg
/ref> for January 2018, the second of six planned SFABs. The SFAB are to consist of about 800 senior and noncommissioned officers who have served at the same echelon, with proven expertise in advise-and-assist operations with foreign security forces. Fort Bragg was chosen as the station for the second SFAB in anticipation of the time projected to train a Security Force Assistance Brigade. On 17 January 2018 39th Chief of Staff Mark Milley announced the activation of the third SFAB.Jared Keller ''Task & Purpose
(22 Jan 2018) The 1st SFAB's Afghan Deployment Is A Moment Of Truth For The Global War On Terror
for 2018, with subsequent SFABs after the year 2nd SFAB undergoes three months of training beginning October 2018, to be followed by a Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation beginning January 2019, and deployment in spring 2019.Bridget Lynch & Greg Hall, PEO C3T Public Affair
(September 5, 2018) Network Support Continues for Army's SFABs
/ref> The 3rd, 4th, and 5th SFABs are to be stationed at Fort Hood, Fort Carson, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, respectively;U.S. Army Office of the Chief of Public Affair
(18 May 2018) Army announces the stationing of three Security Force Assistance Brigades
/ref> the headquarters of the 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade, made up from the Army National Guard, will be in Indiana, one of six states to contribute an element of 54th SFAB.ARN
Indiana National Guard to stand up new assistance brigade
/ref> It is likely that these brigades will be seeing service within United States Central Command.SOF New
(January 30, 2019) 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade
/ref>C. Todd Lope
(May 8, 2019) Success of first SFAB in Afghanistan proves 'Army got it right,' commander says
/ref>

The Security Force Assistance Command (SFAC), a one-star division-level command and all six SFABs will be activated by 2020. The Security Force Assistance Directorate, a one-star Directorate for the SFABs, will be part of FORSCOM in Fort Bragg. SFAD will be responsible for the Military Advisor Training Academy as well.GOM
(4 April 2018) General Officer AssignmentsMark Landes to be Security Force Assistance Director, G3/5/7 at Fort Bragg
/ref>
The 1st SFAB commander was promoted to Brigadier General in Gardez, Afghanistan on 18 August 2018.Maj. Matthew Fontain
(August 18, 2018) 1st SFAB Commander earns 1st Star and Promotion to Brigadier General
/ref> The 2nd SFAB commander was promoted to Brigadier General 7 September 2018. SFAC and 2nd SFAB were activated in a joint ceremony at Fort Bragg on 3 December 2018.Security Force Assistance Command Public Affair
(December 3, 2018) Security Force Assistance Command, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade activate at Fort Bragg
/ref> 2nd SFAB deployed to Afghanistan in February 2019.Todd Sout
(8 May 2019) The next Army SFAB deployments might look a whole lot different from recent ones
/ref>U.S. Army Public Affair
(18 October 2018) Department of the Army announces upcoming 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade unit rotation
to Afghanistan Spring 2019 3rd SFAB activated at Fort Hood on 16 July 2019;Kyle Rempfe
(16 July 2019) 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade activates, preps for Mideast missions
/ref> 3rd SFAB will relieve 2nd SFAB in Afghanistan for the Winter 2019 rotation.U.S. Army Public Affair
(August 16, 2019) Army announces upcoming 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade unit rotation
/ref>

Security Assistance is part of The Army Strategy 2018's Line of Effort 4: "Strengthen Alliances and Partnerships". The Security Assistance Command is based at Redstone ArsenalKari Hawkins (AMCOM
(September 16, 2009) Security Assistance Command plants its flag
/ref> (but the SFAC is based at Fort Bragg).

Army Field Support Brigades

Army Field Support Brigades (AFSBs) have been utilized to field materiel in multiple Combatant Command's Areas of Responsibility (AORs).
Initially 405th AFSB prepositioned stocks for a partial brigade; eventually, the 405th was to field materiel for an ABCT, a Division headquarters, a Fires Brigade, and a Sustainment Brigade in their AOR, which required multinational agreements. Similarly, 401st AFSB configured materiel for an ABCT in their AOR as well. The objective has been combat configuration: maintain their vehicles to support a 96-hour readiness window for a deployed ABCT on demand. In addition, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade maintains prepositioned stocks for their AOR.

Command headquarters

Below the Combatant Commands echelon, Division commands will command and control their combat and support brigades.Headquarters, Dept of the Army (July 2019) ADP 6-0 Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces
4 chapters. See also ADP 3-0; ADP 6-22; FM 6-22; ADP 1-1; and ADP 5-0 Divisions will operate as plug-and-play headquarters commands (similar to corps) instead of fixed formations with permanently assigned units. Any combination of brigades may be allocated to a division command for a particular mission, up to a maximum of four combat brigades. For instance, the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters could be assigned two armor brigades and two infantry brigades based on the expected requirements of a given mission. On its next deployment, the same division may have one Stryker brigade and two armor brigades assigned to it. The same modus operandi holds true for support units. The goal of reorganization with regard to logistics is to streamline the logistics command structureDavid B. Larter (9 Oct 2018) The US Army is preparing to fight in Europe, but can it even get there?
/ref> so that combat service support can fulfill its support mission more efficiently.Capt. Richard Foote, 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (April 21, 2017) Putting the expeditionary in ESC
/ref>Maj. Daniel J. N. Belzer (January 2, 2019) Command relationships between corps and ESCs
ESC=(Expeditionary Support Command); TSC=(Theater Support Command)

The division headquarters itself has also been redesigned as a modular unit that can be assigned an array of units and serve in many different operational environments.See, for exampl
Francis J.H. Park (November/December 2007) "The strategic plans and policy officer in the modular division"
/ref> The new term for this headquarters is the UEx (or Unit of Employment, X). The headquarters is designed to be able to operate as part of a joint force, command joint forces with augmentation, and command at the operational level of warfare (not just the tactical level). It will include organic security personnel and signal capability plus liaison elements. As of March 2015, nine of the ten regular Army division headquarters, and two national guard division headquarters are committed in support of Combatant Commands.

When not deployed, the division will have responsibility for the training and readiness of a certain number of modular brigades units. For instance, the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters module based at Fort Stewart, GA is responsible for the readiness of its combat brigades and other units of the division (that is, 3rd ID is responsible for administrative control — ADCON of its downtrace units), assuming they have not been deployed separately under a different division.

The re-designed headquarters module comprises around 1,000 soldiers including over 200 officers. It includes:
* A Main Command Post where mission planning and analysis are conducted
* A mobile command group for commanding while on the move
* (2) Tactical Command Posts to exercise control of brigades"We need two command posts. We need to be able to shut one down and move it while the other is still in the fight." —MG Pat White, CG 1st Armored Divisio
Army senior leaders meet at Bliss for command post huddle
accessdate=2017-01-26
Abigail Meyer, Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office (01.18.2017) Army senior leaders meet at Bliss for command post huddle
/ref>
* Liaison elements
* A special troops battalion with a security company and signal company

Divisions will continue to be commanded by major generals, unless coalition requirements require otherwise. Regional army commands (e.g. 3rd Army, 7th Army, 8th Army) will remain in use in the future but with changes to the organization of their headquarters designed to make the commands more integrated and relevant in the structure of the reorganized Army, as the chain of command for a deployed division headquarters now runs directly to an Army service component command (ASCC), or to FORSCOM.

In January 2017, examples of pared-down tactical operations centers, suitable for brigades and divisions, were demonstrated at a command post huddle at Fort Bliss. The huddle of the commanders of FORSCOM, United States Army Reserve Command, First Army, I and III Corps, 9 of the Active Army divisions, and other formations discussed standardized solutions for streamlining command posts. The Army is paring-down the tactical operations centers, and making them more agile,Amy Walker, PEO C3T/PM Tactical Network Public Affairs (January 11, 2018) Army pushing to get Secure Wi-Fi on battlefield to gain strategic edge over enemiesDevon L. Suits (July 26, 2018) "CERDEC unveils more than a dozen new technologies for mission command"Kathryn Bailey, Communication-Electronics PAO (June 28, 2018) Command post modernization vision – first, make it mobileJustin Eimers (PEO C3T) (October 1, 2019) U.S. Army 'mission complete' on mission command software reduction
CPCE upgrades for upwards compatibility with system future versions. Remove redundant servers.Staff Sgt. Samuel Northrup (April 1, 2019) New Army vehicles being developed to counter modern threats
to Command Post Directed Requirement Pilot Program of prototypesArmy improves mobility, readiness with new secure wireless systems
accessdate=2017-06-09 to increase their survivability.Maj. Jeremy Horton and Col. Ted Thomas, Mission Command Center of Excellence (27 May 2020) Adapt or Die: Command Posts – Surviving the Future Fight
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(17 Oct 2022) Army 2030: Disperse or die, network and live

By July 2019 battalion command posts have demonstrated jump times of just over 3 hours, at the combat training centers, repeated 90 to 120 times in a rotation.Todd South (June 4, 2019) How changes to mission command will mean soldiers taking risks and taking charge on complex battlefields
/ref>COMMAND SGT. MAJ. VINCENT SIMONETTI and SGT. MAJ. AARON FORRY (18 Jun 2018) HQ ON THE MOVE: BATTALION DEVELOPS A MORE NIMBLE COMMAND POST
/ref>John Cogbill and Eli Myers (5 August 2020) Decentralizing the Fight: Re-imagining the Brigade Combat Team's Headquarters
Using 3rd BCT, 101st Airborne Division "Rakkasans" Headquarters March 2019 at JRTC, "maintained a dual-capable satellite/4G LTE GRRIP system at each location for redundancy, and a SMART-T at the rear and main command posts" for 99% uptime The C5ISR center of CCDC ran a series of experiments (Network Modernization Experiment 2020 — NetModX 20) whether using LTE for connecting nodes in a distributed Command post environment was feasible, from July to October 2020.Stew Magnuson (22 Oct 2020) WEB EXCLUSIVE: Army Looks to Disperse Command Posts to Boost Survivability
/ref>Immersive Op

3D Virtual Operations Center software platformLAUREN C. WILLIAM
(8 Nov 2022) The Army’s Distributed Command Posts of the Future Will Need More than Videochats
"Structuring data is key to the service’s visions of Pacific-spanning operations and AI-enabled decision tools". Amy Walker, PEO C3T Public Affair
(8 June 2017) Army improves mobility, readiness with new secure wireless systems
instead of physical cables Colin Demares
(19 Oct 2022) Palantir wins contract to help Army quickly process battlefield data

Four major commands

United States Army Futures Command (AFC), grew from 12 people ("a small agile command") at headquarters in 2018Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(13 Sep 2018) Futures Command Won't Hurt Oversight, Army Tells Congress
/ref> to 24,000 in 25 states and 15 countries in 2019.Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(July 19, 2019) In first year, Futures Command grows from 12 to 24,000 personnel
/ref> Futures Command was slated to be the Army's fourth Army command (ACOM).Army Futures Command Task Forc
(28 March 2018) "Army Futures Command"
/ref> AFC joined the other Army commands FORSCOM, Army Materiel Command (AMC), and TRADOC as four-star commands. Austin, Texas became the station for the headquarters of Futures Command. Initial operating capability is slated for 2018.AUS
(27 March 2018) Army not ready to announce Futures Command home
/ref>US Arm
(7 Nov 2017) Army Directive 2017–33 (Enabling the Army Modernization Task Force)
/ref>
Although the Army has enjoyed overmatch for the past seventy years, more rapid modernization for conflict with near-peers is the reason for AFC, which will be focused on achieving clear overmatchUS Arm
USArmy tweet: Futures Command will have the overarching objective to achieve clear overmatch in future conflicts, making Soldiers and units more lethal to win the nation's wars, then return home safely.
/ref> in six areas — long-range precision fires,US Arm
Long-range, short term
/ref>PEO (AMM
Picatinny Arsenal
next-generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift platforms, a mobile & expeditionary Army network,US Arm
First unit with TRILOS
/ref>Rapid Capabilities Office (RC
Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) announcemdent
note PNT capability air & missile defense capabilities,Army Will Field 100 Km Cannon, 500 Km Missiles: LRPF CFT
/ref> and soldier lethality (i.e. artillery, armor, aviation, signal, air defense artillery, and infantry respectively ''see: Futures'').

In a reform-oriented break with Army custom, leaders of AFC headquarters were to locate in a downtown property of the University of Texas System, while project-driven soldiers and Army civilians were to co-locate with entrepreneurs/innovators in tech hubs, in the vision of Under Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy.AFC announcemen
(13 July 2018) University of Texas System to serve as home base for U.S. Army Futures Command
/ref>
The official activation ceremony of AFC was on 24 August 2018, in Austin, Texas;Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(August 15, 2018) Army Futures Command aims to tap into innovative culture in Austin and beyond
/ref> in a press conference on that day featuring Army Chief of Staff Milley, Secretary Esper, Mayor Adler, and AFC commander Murray,DVID
DVIDs video, 24 August 2018 press conference
/ref> Chief Milley noted that AFC was to actively reach out into the community in order to learn, and that Senator John McCain's frank criticism of the acquisition process was instrumental for modernization reform at Futures command.Marcus Weisgerber
(25 Oct 2022) Aides Recall How Ash Carter Changed Pentagon’s Weapons Buying
"He was able to solve wickedly complex problems in an actionable, practical way". In fact, AFC soldiers were to blend into Austin by not wearing their uniforms o work side by side with civilians in the tech hubs Milley noted in the 24 August 2018 press conference. Secretary Esper said he expected failures during the process of learning how to reform the acquisition and modernization process.

The organizational design of AFC was informed by the cancellation of the Army's Future Combat Systems project. Under Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy reviewed the reasons for that cancellation. Thus "unity of command and purpose" was a criterion for the design by unifying previous modernization efforts in a single command; the sub-goals would be met in do-able chunks.US Arm
Ryan McCarthy (06 October 2017) Army Directive 2017–24 (Cross-Functional Team Pilot In Support of Materiel Development)
/ref> The ratio of uniformed personnel to Army civilian employees is expected to be a talent-based, task-based issue for the AFC commander.The expectation is that these reforms will enable cultural change across the entire Army, as a part of attaining full operational capability.
The Program Executive Offices (PEOs) of ASA (ALT) will have a dotted-line relationship with Futures Command.

In order to separate Army modernization from today's requirement for readiness, eight cross-functional teams (CFTs) were transferred from the other three major commands to Futures Command.''Breaking Defense'
(26 March 2018) Army Outlines Futures Command; Org Chart In Flux
/ref> United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command and the United States Army Capabilities Integration Center will report to the new command. ATEC retains its direct reporting relationship to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

The first tranche of transfers into AFC included: Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), Capability Development and Integration Directorates (CDIDs), and TRADOC Analysis Center (TRAC) from TRADOC, and RDECOM (including the six research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL)), and Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA), from AMC, as announced by Secretary Esper on 4 June 2018.US Arm
Army General order G.O.2018-10
/ref> TRADOC's new role is amended accordingly. The Principal Military Deputy to the ASA(ALT) was also to become deputy commanding general for Combat Systems, Army Futures Command, while leading the PEOs; he has directed each PEO who does not have a CFT to coordinate with, to immediately form one, at least informally.Ms. Audra Calloway (Picatinny
(September 19, 2018) With new Army Futures Command, senior acquisition leader discusses role of Program Executive Offices
/ref>
General Murray has announced that AFC intends to be a global command, in its search for disruptive technologies.David Vergun, Army News Servic
(October 10, 2018) Army Futures Command to become 'global command,' says its leader
/ref>
39th Army Chief of Staff Milley was looking for AFC to attain full operational capability (FOC) by August 2019, a goal since met.

As this modernized materiel is fielded to the brigades, the scheme is to equip the units with the highest levels of readiness for deployment with upgraded equipment earliest, while continuing to train the remaining units to attain their full mission capability. Note that expertise, in say psychological operations, is not necessarily confined to the Active Army brigades; if some operation were to require the expertise of a National Guard unit for example, an echelon above brigade might require that a unit with the most modern materiel be formed, to utilize that expertise.
The 10 Active Army divisions each have a deployable 3D printer for immediate operational requirements (to replace damaged materiel, subject to Army directives). ASA(ALT) Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
(Friday, October 4, 2019) Army Advanced Manufacturing Initiative
*Ryan McCarth
(18 September 2019) Army Directive 2019–29 (Enabling Readiness and Modernization Through Advanced Manufacturing)
This directive is to be implemented by Materiel Command and Futures Command; the proponent will be ASA(ALT)
*Mark Espe
(07 Dec 2018) Army Directive 2018–26 (Enabling Modernization Through the Management of Intellectual Property)
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(October 23, 2019) Army's 3D Printing Hub Will Be Rock Island: Gen. Perna
The 10 Active Army divisions each have a deployable 3D printer as part of the Metal Working & Machining Shop Set (MWMSS), in expandable mobile containers. The 3D designs are downloaded from an interim digital repository developed in-house by Army Futures Command, the Repository for Additive Parts for Tactical and Operational Readiness (RAPTOR).
*Industry Week Staf
(May 21, 2019) Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence Opens at Army Center
Rock Island Arsenal (RIA)
*Sgt. Travis M. O'Brie
(January 4, 2016) Advanced shop sets for Soldiers' advanced skill sets
MWMSS for MOS 91Es
*Thomas Bradin
(December 5, 2019) Advanced manufacturing techniques set to cut costs, timelines
*Thomas Bradin
(19 February 2020) Army scientists develop cutting-edge, durable 3D printing technology
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 Dec 2020) Bullets, Beans & Data: The New Army Materiel Command EXCLUSIVE
ala RAPTOR: "Race to 5000" national stock numbers (3D models) in the 12 months in 2021.

By 2020, in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget request to Congress, the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE) was able to report progress in the partnership between Army Futures Command (viz. its CFTs) and his PEOs in ASA(ALT) —the office of Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology).Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(10 March 2020) Soldier-centered approach helping lead ground modernization efforts
FY2021 planning in the top six priorities for modernization
* $9 billion was realigned using the "night court review" of items in the Army's budget over the next 5 fiscal years; $63 billion is now allocated for modernization in that 5 year period
* For Soldier lethality:
** Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular was defined and fielded in 18 months
** Similarly, a software system for mission command, the Command Post Computing Environment has now been fielded
* In Long range precision fires, successful tests have occurred in:
** ERCA (Extended range cannon artillery) has demonstrated accurate hits (within 1 meter) at over 40 miles range
** PrSM (Precision strike missile) has demonstrated 150 mile range within its expected accuracy and instrumentation in an overhead detonation

Multi-domain operations (MDO)

In 2017, the concept of multi-domain battle (MDB)Gen. David G. Perkins, U.S. Arm
(November-December 2017) ''Military Review'' III "Multi-Domain Battle The Advent of Twenty-First Century War"
/ref> had emerged from TRADOC,David Vergu
(05.31.2017) Multi-domain battle has immediate applications, says Gen. Perkins
/ref> for which the Army sought joint approval from the other services; instead, the Air Force recommended multi-domain operations (MDO) as the operating concept.TRADO
TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1 (6 December 2018) The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028
"describes how US Army forces, as part of the Joint Force, will militarily compete, penetrate, dis-integrate, and exploit our adversaries in the future.
Link moved here
/ref>HQDA Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3-5-
(23 April 2021) Army Multi-Domain Transformation
Summary of lines of effort (LOE) for MDO
*Devon Suit
(16 Mar 2021) Army continues greatest transformation in the past 40 years, CSA says
/ref>

Multi-domain operations cover integrated operation of cyberspace, space (meaning satellite operations, from the Army's perspective), land, maritime, and air.TRADO
(Sep 16, 2015) Perkins discusses operationalizing the Army Operating Concept
/ref> A multi-domain task force was stood up in 2018 in I Corps for the Pacific, built around 17th Field Artillery Brigade. MDO in the Pacific has to involve maritime operations; MDO is planned for EUCOM in 2020.Maj. Richard W. Gibso
(October 1, 2018) Applying Multi-Domain Concepts Against Counter-Space Threats
Multi-domain battalions, first stood up in 2019, comprise a single unit for air, land, space, and cyber domainsSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(24 Jan 2019) Hack, Jam, Sense & Shoot: Army Creates 1st Multi-Domain Unit
an MDO Battalion for Targeting, I Corps. to ensure integration of cyber/EW, space, and information operations in more levels of command.

 By 2020 the Army's programs for modernization were now framed as a decades-long process of cooperation with allies and partners,DVID
DEFENDER-EUROPE 20
videos, images and storiesMatthew Dalto

"America's principal national defense strategy: deterrence in peacetime"Lt. Col. Travis Dettme
(9 February 2020) U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Center teaches Multi-Domain Operations to NATO Allied Land Command
MDO for competition with potential adversaries who historically have blurred the distinction between peace and war,Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(January 13, 2020) Infinite Games & War By Other Means: Ryan McCarthy

"We must be engaged in constant competition, versus an episodic engagement strategy" —Secretary Ryan McCarthyKyle Mizokam
(8 Mar 2020) The Air Force's New Weapon Is...Shipping Containers?
"Drone maker Kratos Defense is proposing inserting its new XQ-58A Valkyrie drone in a modified shipping container" into selected Indo-Pacific locations as pre-positioned stock for quick armed response to threats. Hundreds of containers could be deployed but not all need be occupied with Valkyries.
*Garrett Rei
(3 Mar 2020) Why the US Air Force might use ‘deception’ and UAVs hidden in shipping containers to fight China
/ref> and who have been operating within the continuum (the gray zone) between peace, cooperation, competition, crisis, and conflict instead. When meeting a crisis, the Army's preference is deterrence.Joseph Lacdan, Army News Servic
(17 June 2021) AFC chief: ‘Preference is deterrence’ in regards to new capabilities for joint force
/ref> The need for deterrence against ballistic missiles is shifting to the need to deter or defend against attack by hypersonic weapons.

Conflict

Deterrence

In the decade from 2009 to 2019 the Army was transitioning its brigade-based counterinsurgency effort to modernization of the echelons above brigade; by 2021 integrated deterrence (a campaign operating across domains, by a single commander to meet the objective of the Joint and Allied Force —the concept is scalable, assigning one objective per task force commander) against possible adversaries was underway, as part of the Joint force's campaign of learning.

TRADOC designed exercises for Joint warfighter assessments —JWA 19,Amy Walker and Justin Eimers, PEO C3T Public Affair
(April 8, 2019) Multinational exercises aim to improve coalition data sharing
/ref>Shawn Nesa
(March 20, 2019) Latest sensor upgrades boost recon vehicle capabilities
NBCRVSpc. Miguel Ruiz, Joint Modernization Comman
(MAY 8, 2019) Back to the future: US, partner nations assess future warfighting capabilities at JMC-sponsored JWA 19
/ref> at Fort Lewis, to clarify the jumps for Command Posts, to ensure their survivability during future operations.
In 2019, there was a new focus on planning for large-scale ground combat operations (LSCO),Maj. Gen. Rodney D. Fogg, Brig. Gen. Douglas M. McBride Jr., and Maj. Graham Davidso
(July 18, 2019) Focus:Sustaining the Future Fight
LSCO compared to Patton's 3rd ArmyGen. Gustave "Gus" Pern
(July 18, 2019) AMC Commander: Battlefield Sustainment Requires Intuition
/ref>Lt. Gen. Michael Lundy, Col. Richard Creed, and Lt. Col. Scott Penc
(July 18, 2019) Feeding the Forge: Sustaining Large-Scale Ground Combat Operations
/ref>Kyle Rempfe
(September 20, 2019) Army's new chief looks to prep the force for large-scale combat
40th CSA mulls deployments for Large-Scale Combat Operations — LSCO "that will require echelons above brigade, all of which will solve unique and distinct problems that a given BCT can't solve by itself."— LTG Eric Wesley.
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(April 03, 2019) How Army's Multi-Domain Overhaul May Impact The National Guard
*' In 2009, the Army officially replaced "command and control" with "mission command"'
** Austin Carn
(7 Jul 2020) Mission Command: The Army's Powerful Leadership Tool
* Col. Douglas M. McBride Jr. and Reginald L. Snell, Ph.D
(9 January 2017) Applying mission command to overcome challenges
Creating trust is the foundation for accomplishing the mission.
*US Army
Computer simulations (DOTMLPF), of the survivability rates for the units, were then compared with the interaction strategies, tactics and operations of JWA 19, a highly contested environment. JWA 19 occurred at multiple operational speeds, in multiple domains served by multiple services (cyber: operating in milliseconds; air: operations at 500 miles per hour; maritime: 30 knots; and ground: 2 miles per hour). JWA 19 involved the militaries of the US, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, France, Australia and Singapore.

The first CG of Futures Command (AFC) has noted that MDO will tie together the initiatives of AFC; but failures are to be expected in the AFC initiatives, and the institutional response of the Army, which is traditionally risk-averse, will test how committed the nation is to Army reforms.

Mesh networking is in play for the Mobile, Expeditionary Network: In Fiscal Year 2019, the network CFT, PEO 3CT, and PEO Soldier leveraged Network Integration Evaluation 18.2 for experiments with brigade level scalability.Theresa Hitchen
(December 02, 2019) Hey SDA, AFRL Boosts Space-Based Internet Tests
/ref>Nathan Strou
(1 Jul 2021) The Space Development Agency now has demo satellites on orbit. Here's what they'll do.
Transporter-2: Mandrake 2, the Laser Interconnect and Networking Communications System (LINCS), and the Prototype On-orbit Experimental Testbed (POET). Yam-3 for data fusion. Pitboss for Autonomous mission management. Among the takeaways was to avoid overspecifying the requirements (in ITNU.S. Arm
(April 30, 2019) Profile: Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)
/ref> Information Systems Initial Capabilities Document) to meet operational needs,Justin Eimers, PEO C3
(October 3, 2018) Network Cross-Functional Team, acquisition partners experimenting to modernize tactical network
/ref> such as interoperability with other networks.Joe Lacdan, Army News Servic
(October 25, 2018) Interoperability a key focus in building the Army's future network
/ref>US DoD
(May 16, 2018) Army Officials Testify on FY 2019 Budget Request
/ref> ITN —Integrated Tactical Network is being fielded to four brigades in 2021.Mark Pomerlea
(21 Jan 2020) What a deployment to the Middle East means for testing a new Army network
An operational deployment begun 1 Jan 2020, which won't be instrumented, will provide some Soldier feedback, but instrumented testing is deferred until after redeployment.
*Mark Pomerlea
(25 September 2019) How the Army will test its new battlefield network
/ref> Up through 2028, every two years the Army will insert new capability sets for ITN (Capability sets '21, '23, '25, etc.).Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(3 April 2019) Multi-Domain Networks: The Army, The Allies & AI
Incremental ITN Capability sets '21, '23, '25Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(June 21, 2019) New tech, accessibility to improve Army tactical networks
/ref>Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3T public affair
(December 4, 2019) Global network design unifies Army modernization efforts
GAIT will be used in Defender 2020

On 25 September 2020 Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville discussed the combination of Multi-domain operations (MDO) and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown.Joseph Lacdan, Army News Servic
(25 September 2020) Army to build on results from first Project Convergence exercise
/ref>
On 2 October 2020 the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force signed a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) of the two services, a two-year agreement. Their staffs met again after 60 days to show their progress on connecting the Army's Project Convergence and the Air Force's ABMS into a data fabric in 2021.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. and Theresa Hitchen
(9 October 2020) Army, Air Force Get Serious On JADC2: Joint Exercises In 2021
/ref>Gen. David Goldfein and Gen. Jay Raymon
(28 Feb 2020) America's future battle network is key to multidomain defense
JADC2: " We cannot yet share data in a seamless and simultaneous way between the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or the Space Force"Joseph Lacda
(17 Apr 2021) Service leaders prioritize integration in joint effort to achieve overmatch
JSIL, Aberdeen: Preparation of data fabric for Project Convergence, ABMS JADC2, and Project Overmatch: Army – Air Force – NavySydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(14 Oct 2020) Army Seeks Open Architecture For All Air & Ground Systems: Jette
In the spirit of MOSA, JADC2, & Project convergence:
*Army Common Operating Environment (COE)
*C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS)
*Future Air-Borne Capability Environment (FACE)
*Integrated Sensor Architecture (ISA)
*Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA)
*Vehicle Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY)Mission command Battle La
(2 August 2021) MCBL experiments with ARL's Cross Reality COP to support distributed collaboration in virtual reality
Soldier touchpoint for Echelons above brigade (EABs): common operational picture

Competition

::"The competition phase is about ''deterring war''". —Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr.
In September and November 2019 the Department of Defense (DoD) "scheduled a series of globally integrated exercises with participation from across the US government interagency to refine our plans" —19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford. This exercise was designed to help 27th Secretary of Defense Mark Esper develop new plans, in the face of a change in chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Specifically what was missing in 2019 was a joint conceptSydney Freedberg, Jr
(January 14, 2020) Army Chief Seeks ‘Minimally Manned’ Vehicles, Joint C2
LRPF, ITN, IBCS, FARA, FLRAA, and "We need a joint command and control system" —40th Army Chief of Staff James C. McConville shared at the appropriate operational speed between the several domains, among the respective services, when fighting a peer adversary. —LTG Eric WesleyDan Gour�
(May 24, 2019) A New Joint Doctrine for an Era of Multi-Domain Operations
MDO- MDC2- Distributed Maritime Operations- Marine Corps Operating Concept- "distributed lethality to connect ships, submarines, aircraft and satellites in networks for sensing, commanding and shooting"Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(September 12, 2019) Army Multi-Domain Wargame Reveals C2 Shortfalls
MDC2 software improvements needed
*Theresa Hitchen
(November 12, 2019) Navy, Air Force Chiefs Agree To Work On All Domain C2
Change nomenclature: from MDC2 to JADC2Lt. Gen. David Perkin
(June 18, 2013) Understanding Mission command.
Mission command is beyond C2. ''Note the referenced LRHW graphic depicting a 2019 scenario''—Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(28 Feb 2020) Army Ramps Up Funding For Laser Shield, Hypersonic Sword
In FY2021 HELs funding is up 209 percent; LRHW funding is up 86 percent. RCCTO spending is $1 billion in 2021.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(17 Sep 2019) Target, Kaliningrad: Air Force Puts Putin On Notice
*Charlie Ga
(May 25, 2018) NATO's Worst Nightmare: Russia's Kaliningrad Is Armed to the Teeth
*Reuters Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Andrew Osbor
(FEBRUARY 5, 2018) Russia deploys Iskander nuclear-capable missiles to Kaliningrad: RIA
RIA news agency
Joe Lacda
(September 25, 2019) More joint efforts likely as the Army prepares for multi-domain operations
Combined Resolve XII; 10th Mountain Div for Atlantic Resolve; 2/1CD & Cab/3ID to Eucom; AR to : Immediate Response (hosted by Croatia and Slovenia), Saber Guardian (in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania), and Swift Response; Operation Cobra Gold (hosted by Thailand). A speedup in tempo by CFTs is needed. This is a return to the use of echelons above brigade (Divisions, Corps, and Field Armies), with specific tasks to force current adversaries to return to competition, rather than continue conflict;CRS Insight (IN11019
(January 17, 2019) The U.S. Army and Multi-Domain Operations
*Todd Sout
(11 August 2019) This 3-star Army general explains what multi-domain operations mean for you
"think, assess and employ all domains when necessary"— General WesleyPaul McClear
(4 September 2019) Major War Game To Jolt 4 Services, Force Decisions
/ref>Todd Sout
(13 September 2019) Massive simulation shows the need for speed in multi-domain ops
"400 participants working with 55 formations, 64 concepts and 150 capabilities" kill chains were formed within seconds, by live-fire demonstration, as of September 2020.

In the Army of 2030 a division would be the Unit of Action, rather than a brigade.Caitlin Kenn
(10 Oct 2022) Divisions, Corps to Replace Brigades As Army’s Wartime Formation Of Choice
"Brigades that operated largely independently in Iraq and Afghanistan will fight as part of larger units in future conflicts, officials said". US Army Public Affair
(10 Oct 2022) AUSA Contemporary Military Forum: Army 2030 - Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Fight
Gen. McConville, Gen.(Ret) Perkins, DepUnderSec Diaz, Gen. Rainey, LTG Beagle, Prof. Greer (SAMS)Army University Pres
(Dec 2021) WayPoint in 2028 – Multidomain Operations
14:00 Lt Gen Theodore Martin, Commander of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS Artillery, engineer, and intelligence units would mass at the division echelon; brigades would become smaller to become more maneuverable. A corps would sustain the brigades' endurance for the longer fight; the higher echelons (field army, corps, and division) would gain the resources they would need for the duration of an operation.Christine Wormuth, 25th Secretary of the Arm
(10 Oct 2022) AUSA 2022 Opening Ceremony
hour 0:37:50 to 1:05:41

By 2021 the Department of Defense could train for crises using capabilities it had developed jointly among its military departments, using concepts it had settled upon experimentally, beginning in 2019:

''Note: the following training scenario, to gain relative advantage, is only one of the possible paths suggested by following the 5 red numbered bullet points in the illustration.''

# Competition— No overt hostilities are yet detected. Blue bar (force projection) is in standoff against red bar (threat).
# Strategic Support area— National assets (blue) detect breaching of standoff by adversary (in red).
# Close area support— blue assets hand-off to the combatant commands, who are to create effects visible to the adversary (in red).
# Deep maneuver— blue combatant actions dis-integrate adversary efforts (per TRADOC pamphlet 525-3-1: "militarily compete, penetrate, dis-integrate, and exploit" the adversary); —Operational and Strategic deep fires create effects on the adversary. Adversary is further subject to defeat in detail, until adversaries perceive they are overmatched (no more red assets to expend).
# Adversary retreats to standoff. The populations perceive that the adversary is defeated, for now. (Compare to Perkins' cycle, 'return to competition', in which deterrence has succeeded in avoiding a total war, in favor of pushing an adversary back to standoff (the red threat bar). Blue force projection still has overmatched red threat.)

In 2019 the 27th Secretary of Defense ordered the four services and the Joint staff to create a new joint warfighting concept for All-domain operations (ADO), operating simultaneously in the air, land, sea, space, cyber, and the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). In 2021 the 28th Secretary of Defense approved the Joint warfighting concept (JWC), which remains classified.Theresa Hitchen
(16 Jun 2021) SecDef OKs Joint Warfighting Concept; Joint Requirements Due Soon
/ref>

The 20th CJCS has allocated roles to each of the services in concept development for Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO);Theresa Hitchens and Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(22 July 2020) Milley Assigns Service Roles In All-Domain Ops Concept
/ref>
*the Air Force takes the lead for command and control (C2). The Joint services each have a C2 concept to be scaled —for the Army, C2 requires thousands of connections with the sensors and shooters, Blue force tracking—The Army now has technology to keep track of its warfighters, down to the squad level position, or even individual soldier position. as compared with hundreds of connections with the sensors and shooters for the Air Force ABMS ( Advanced Battle Management System);John R. Hoeh
(updated 27 Sep 2021) Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)
CRS IF11866, updated from work by Katherine LeahySydney J. Freedberg Jr
(22 Jan 2020) ABMS Can't Be ‘Sole Solution’ For Joint C2, Army Tells Air Force — Exclusive
Scaling sensors, shooters, land-based C2, and JADC2Christopher M. Doughert
(20 May 2021) The Pentagon needs a plan to get punched in the mouth
paraphrase of Mike Tyson: another approach to JADC2
* the Navy will lead concept development in Joint fires: its newest equipment (the newer Littoral Combat Ships, the MQ-8C, and the Naval Strike Missile) provides standoff for the Navy against its near-peers.David Larter and Carl Pinz
(September 15, 2019) Armed with a new missile, the LCS comes of age
/ref>Paul McLear
(28 August 2020) If It Floats, It Fights:’ Navy's New Small Ship Strategy
/ref> In February 2020, voices at the tactical level were supporting cross-domain, cross-role, cross-service interoperation: "''Any'' sensor should be able to link to ''any'' shooter and ''any'' command and control node".Paul Birch, Ray Reeves and Brad DeWee
(19 February 2020) How To Build JADC2 To Make It Truly Joint
"''Any'' sensor should be able to link to ''any'' shooter and ''any'' command and control node" The combination of F-35-based targeting coordinates, Long range precision fires, and Low-earth-orbit satellite capability overmatches the competition, according to Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley.Joseph Lacdan, Army News Servic
(October 21, 2019) AFC deputy: Combined capabilities make military might more lethal
/ref> A Space sensor layer of satellites (at 1200 miles above earth) would position hundreds of Low-earth-orbit sensors for tracking hypersonic vehicles. This tracking layer would provide guidance information to the interceptors in the missile defense system.Loren Thompso
(4 February 2020) Pentagon Aims To Build Vast Space Sensor Layer
/ref>Paul McLear
(18 Dec 2019) MDA Kickstarts New Way To Kill Hypersonic Missiles
HBTSS is 'Space sensor layer'Jay Koeste
(23 April 2020) JADC2 ‘Experiment 2’ provides looking glass into future experimentation
Army's Joint Modernization Command (JMC) JADC2 Experiments 1 and 2
* the Army will lead concept development for contested logistics.Frank Wolf
(6 Oct 2020) Joint Warfighting Concept Assumes 'Contested Logistics'
/ref>Marcus Weisgerber
(17 Oct 2022) Commercial Planes, Ships Would Play Large Role in Pacific War, TRANSCOM Head Says

* the service to lead concept development in 'Information advantage' is not yet determined by the Joint Staff J-7 as of 16 September 2020. Build a kill chain faster than the adversary's OODA loop.The corresponding Army terminology (2021) to OODA is: Sense & understand, Decide, and Act; (Assess underlies the other verbs), from Scott McKeanbr>(14 Jul 2021) AFC Pamphlet 71-20-9 Pursuing decision dominance
AFCC-C2, as cited by Sydney J Freedberg J
Army's New Aim Is ‘Decision Dominance’
/ref>David L. Goldfei
All-Domain Operations Doctrine--CSAF signed.pdf (5 Mar 2020) USAF role in All-Domain Operations
(JADO) David L. Goldfein: "JADC2 is the C2 of JADO". "Initial stovepiping of a joint operation can delay integration". Therefore, when a Joint force commander can communicate the commander's intent to all forces, and can allow forces from all domains to continuously re-integrate their actions, then a Joint force can flexibly respond to the changing situation in a mission.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(4 Nov 2020) Military AI Is Bigger Than Just The Kill Chain: JAIC Chief
/ref> ''See Fog of war''Theresa Hitchen
(16 September 2020) JROC Struggles To Build ‘Information Advantage’ Requirement
/ref> AI is one such initiative.
*By 11 August 2021, the Joint requirements oversight council (JROC) identified a 5th functional capability— Integrated air and missile defense (IAMD). JROC will now issue a directive to evaluate the capability gaps in the Missile defense reviewOffice of the Secretary of defens
(2019) 2019 MISSILE DEFENSE REVIEW
/ref> of C2BMC as well as the Nuclear Posture Review.Jen Judso
(11 Aug 2021) Pentagon readies to identify integrated air and missile defense capability gaps
/ref>
In late December 2019, the Air Force, Army, and Navy ran a Joint all-domain command and control (JADC2)Justin Le
(November 21, 2019) MILCOM 2019 HIGHLIGHTS URGENT NEED FOR JOINT ALL-DOMAIN COMMAND AND CONTROL
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(November 14, 2019) OSD & Joint Staff Grapple With Joint All-Domain Command
Joint Chiefs of Staff#Joint Staff buy-in connection exercise of Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)Lauren C. William
(NOV 13, 2019) Air Force gears up for first 'connect-a-thon'
for the first time. This exercise is denoted ''ABMS Onramp'', and will occur at four month intervals. JADC2 is a joint multi-domain operation (MDO); the exercise will involve the Army's Long range fires, ground-based troops, and Sentinel radar. The Air Force contributes F-22s and F-35s, while the Navy is bringing F-35Cs and a destroyer to ABMS Onramp.Theresa Hitchen
(6 Dec 2019, updated 5:21pm) First Multi Domain C2 Exercise Planned: ABMS Onramp
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(21 Jan 2020) ABMS Demos Speed New Capabilities To Warfighters
connections: C130 to LEO Starlink; F22 to F35; The December 2019 exercise used a NORTHCOM scenario.>Theresa Hitchen
(December 23, 2019) OSD, Services Get First Look At Air Force Multi-Domain Chops
/ref>

The April 2020 test of ABMS was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The test was to have spanned bases from Eglin AFB to Nellis AFB; from Yuma Proving Ground to White Sands Missile Range— in this test, a simulated attack was to take place on 3 geographic commands: on Space Command, on Northern Command, and on Strategic Command's nuclear command, control, and communications.

JADC2 is to ensure continuity of commander's intent— JADC2 was to be exercised in late August or early September 2020.Theresa Hitchen
(5 May 2020) The Key To All-Domain Warfare Is ‘Predictive Analysis:’ Gen. O’Shaughnessy
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(14 May 2020) MDA: All-Domain C2 Key To Countering Hypersonic Missiles
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(10 June 2020) CQ Brown Brings Pacific Focus; Keen Interest In Joint Ops
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is undergoing a Limited user test in August–September 2020 in preparation for a Milestone C acquisition decision.Theresa Hitchen
(4 Aug 2020) Army IBCS Critical To JADC2: STRATCOM's Adm. Richard
/ref> IBCS is a critical building block for JADC2; the ABMS test is a separate project. Thirty-three different hardware platforms, some using 5G, 70 industry teams, and 65 government teams participated in this ABMS Onramp, the first week in September 2020.Theresa Hitchen
(25 August 2020) More Ambitious ABMS Demo Uses 5G: Roper
*AFWERXbr>(25 August 2020) Dr. Will Roper ABMS 'Ask Me Anything'
1:30:33 ABMS ( Advanced battle management system) requires Internet of Military Things.
**5:00 Foundational IoT: Containerized software systems, forming the connective tissue between domains, devices, platforms, populations.
**16:15 There is not going to be one machine-to-machine system in the future force, but rather a set of machine-to-machine data-exchanges (in publishable, understandable, communicable, discoverable formats).
**22:50 A new kind of requirements process (horizontal (modernize seamlessly over time) rather than vertical, top-down processes for hardware). If a standard exists, such as 5G, or APIs, use it.
**27:50 A culture change, elevating data in importance, over bullets, will be required to win wars. Simplification of the ABMS user interface will be necessary, in order to present the relevant mission-dependent data to the Soldier, or Combatant commander.
**31:30 There will be so much happening, that phone calls will be seen as the obstacle they are, during ABMS Onramp, just like the COVID-19 data needs.
**35:00 deviceONE operates on SIPRNET tablets today. Portions of ABMS are operational today (25 August 2020).
**39:50 a devOps mentality will be required; X as a Service (XaaS) is needed for Developer's adaptability and agility in the face of uncertain threats --an OODA loop with 4-month cycles. Agility and adaptability are needed for the Onramps. A set of Use cases are the targets to be sought during the development process.
**49:20 70 industry team offerings are welcome, include 50%-solutions as well.
**52:00 There is no way the Acquisition process can have a lead Systems Integrator to serve as Prime Contractor for a program— Replace this with a tool, a common infrastructure (tech stack) with full authorities (IRAD, Design Reviews, -- DoD has to be good at IT).
**56:10 for the Army, ABMS means National-level situation awareness, that is tuned, relevant to the mission— from the Soldier on the ground, or to the Combatant Commander.
**1:00:00 Use robotic agents (drones as wingmen or battle-buddies) to absorb threats at the tip of the spear; 1:06:00 pull people back from the tip of the spear, in favor of robots. Have people make the calls/commands to direct the strikes; this will not replace the warfighter.
**1:14:00 ABMS scale-up — If we fail, this won't be tried again for years.Loren Thompso
(28 Aug 2020) Air Force's ‘Skyborg’ Robotic Wingman Will Revolutionize How Air Warfare Is Waged—And How Weapons Are Bought
/ref> By 13 May 2021 the 28th Secretary of Defense had approved the JADC2 strategy.Colin Clar
(4 Jun 2021) SecDef OKs JADC2 Strategy: Now OSD Has ‘Teeth’
Approved 13 May 2021Jaspreet Gil
(28 Apr 2022) Learning from Ukraine conflict, info security agency pushes ahead on JADC2
DISA planning JADC2 for "denied and disconnected low bandwidth situations" On 11 August 2021 JROC had identified a 5th functional capability ( IAMD) in addition to the 4 functional battles, or competitive advantages already identified.Theresa Hitchen
(11 Aug 2021) JROC's Next Target: ‘Integrated Air & Missile Defense’
IAMDColin Clar
(28 Oct 2021) 'Hundreds' Of China Hypersonic Tests Vs. 9 US; Hyten Says US Moves Too Slowly
/ref>

In August 2020 a Large force test event (LFTE) was completed at Nellis AFB; the test event demonstrated the ability of F-35s to orchestrate SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) using F-22s, F-15Es, E/A-18Gs, B-2s, and RQ-170s. In addition the ability of F-35s to direct Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) was demonstrated during the 2020 Orange Flag event at Edwards AFB (Orange Flag showed the ability of an F-35A to collect targeting data, relay that data to an airborne communications node, as well as to a simulated IBCS station).Theresa Hitchen
(6 August 2020) AF Tests F-35, Stealth Fleet For Integrated Electronic Warfare
/ref>
;Project Convergence (PC20)
In Fall 2020, Futures Command is testing the data links between the Army's AI task force and its helicopters —Future Vertical Lift (FVL), its long-range missile launchers —Long range precision fires (LRPF), and its combat vehicles —(NGCV);Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(28 May 2020) Army Invites Air Force ABMS To Big Network Test: Project Convergence
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(14 August 2020) Can Army Intel Data Feed The Kill Chain?
Quickly pooling data will take AI and cloud—"Project Convergence"Joseph Lacdan, Army News Servic
(11 September 2020) Project Convergence aims to accelerate change in modernization efforts
At Yuma Proving Ground, success means to complete the demo in less than 20 seconds. in Fall 2021 and going forward, the links between ABMS and Multi-domain operations are invited when the Army's Air and Missile Defense capabilities (AMD's IBCS and MSHORAD —Maneuver short-range air defense) have undergone further testing.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 September 2020) Target Gone In 20 Seconds: Army Sensor-Shooter Test
/ref>

In September 2020, an ABMS Demonstration at WSMR (White Sands Missile Range) shot down cruise missile surrogates with hypervelocity (speeds of Mach 5) projectiles jointly developed by the Army and Navy. The Army interceptor stems from an XM109 Paladin howitzer;Valerie Insinn
(4 Sep 2020) Behind the scenes of the US Air Force's second test of its game-changing battle management system
A hypervelocity projectile descended from a Paladin munition knocked down a cruise missile surrogate on 3 September 2020 at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR)
*An ABMS Onramp Two vendor provided sensor towers and AI to track the cruise missile surrogates.
*ABMS provided common picture to combatant commanders the Navy interceptor stems from a deck gun.Theresa Hitchen
(3 Sep 2020) ABMS Demo Proves AI Chops For C2
The ABMS demo had four phases, under computer control. The kill chains were formed in seconds rather than minutes.
# Early detection, identification, and warning
#* Scanning —Humans no longer need to dedicate their attention to a single, boring task. Replace the problem of stovepiped sensors / functions with more salient events. Let sensors perform direct machine-to-machine data exchanges in an Internet of Military Things and detect events which are salient to the mission.
#* This allows concentration of effort by the Intelligence Community. Let machines follow the leads under Human direction
# Red force tracking
#* Use AI feeds to form the kill chains (plan the series of steps needed to kill a Red threat)
#* Let machines follow Red trajectories to estimate the time needed to intercept a Red threat
# Engaging red force threats
#* Select an appropriate Blue interceptor (fast enough to engage Red threat, close enough to get past standoff distance)
#* In two cases, hypervelocity (moving at Mach 5) munitions were launched from cannons (one Army, one Navy) to kill cruise missile surrogates.
#* Other 'sensor-to-shooter' kill chains included AIM-9 missiles launched from F-16s and MQ-9s, as well as a ground-launched AIM-9 missile (which was designed to be an air-to-air munition).
# Blue force tracking
#* Develop dedicated Clouds- strategic cloud for the Commander, and tactical cloud for the individual SoldierPATRICK TUCKE
(11 SEPTEMBER 2020) The Air Force's ‘Connect Everything’ Project Just Had a Big Success
The ABMS Onramp 2 demo occurred on 2 September 2020. Commanders were shown they had the same access to a Common Operational Picture, displayed on their tablets at the flight line, as they had on their screens earlier in the command center.Colin Clar
(19 Nov 2020) Preston Dunlap: ‘A Thousand Kill Chains In Your Pocket’
links to video The data feeds used both 4G and 5G, as well as cloud-based AI feeds, to form the kill chains. The kill chains directing the intercepts were developed from 60 data feeds, and took seconds to develop, as opposed to the minutes which previous processes took. Other 'sensor-to-shooter' kill chains included AIM-9 missiles launched from F-16s and MQ-9s, as well as a ground-launched AIM-9 missile (which was designed to be an air-to-air munition). Four National Test Ranges were involved in the demonstration, as well as five combatant commands.
Valerie Insinn
(15 Sep 2020) The US Air Force has built and flown a mysterious full-scale prototype of its future fighter jet
via "digital engineering, agile software development and open architecture". —Will Roper
In October 2020 the DoD Acquisition chief completed an extensive redesign of the Adaptive acquisition framework (AAF) including software acquisition, middle-tier acquisition, defense business systems, acquisition of services, urgent capability acquisition and major capability acquisition. AAF now adheres to the updated DoD 5000.01 policy approved in September 2020 by her lead, the Deputy Defense Secretary.Mandy Mayfiel
(7 October 2020) JUST IN: Pentagon to Streamline Software Development
AAF (Adaptive acquisition framework) now adheres to the updated DoD 5000.01 policy approved in September 2020 by Ellen Lord's lead, the Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist
;PC21
:''See PC22''
In March 2021, XVIII Airborne Corps hosts a Project Maven ( DoD AI-based) live-fire experiment which shares targeting data among F-35s, A-10s, HIMARS, and satellites.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(23 Feb 2021) Army AI Gets Live Fire Test Next Week
/ref>Andrew Feickert, Congressional research service (CRS) IF1165
(updated 27 Sep 2021) The Army’s Project Convergence
PC20, PC21, PC22Nathan Strou

NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)

In June 2021 the 28th secretary of defense issued a classified memorandum directing the Services to engage in more joint experimentation and prototyping, in support of the All-domain operations (JADO) concept (the Joint warfighting concept).Colin Clar
(9 Jun 2021) SecDef Austin Takes Personal Charge of DoD China Policy With Classified Directive
/ref>
In Fall 2021,More precisely, 12 Oct-10 Nov 2021, according to Jen Judso
(11 Aug 2021) US Army's critical missile defense system will play role at Project Convergence
IBCS battalion will be part of 6000-7000 personnel, including 900 for data collectionMark Schaue
(3 November 2021) Yuma Proving Ground supports cutting-edge technology testing during PC 21
/ref> a ''Joint Force'' (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Operations) used Project Convergence 2021 (PC21) to simulate the distances in the First island chain of the Pacific Ocean,Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(5 Apr 2021) Joint Force Vs. China: Project Convergence 21
/ref> which Army Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF) are to cover.Andrew Eversde
(13 May 2022) Lawmakers worry Army doesn’t have basing agreements for long-range fires
A Multi-domain task force (MDTF), and Special Forces took the lead during the Competition phase of the exercise. In June 2021 the 35th Deputy secretary of defense announced
#the RDER (Rapid defense experimentation reserve, "Raider") to fund those defense organizations which successfully institutionalize experiments to exercise joint warfighting capability.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 Jun 2021) Hicks Seeks To Unify Service Experiments With New ‘Raider’ Fund
/ref>
#*One example might be, say an end-to-end flow of data, say in a kill chain from an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance detection of an enemy hypersonic weapons launch, to interdiction of the threat, to battle damage assessment.
#*Note that exercises to deepen a service silo have a disadvantage in a competition for RDER funding.
# an AI and data acceleration initiative to help the 11 combatant commands apply their new capabilities; teams of specialists are to assist the combatant commanders to automate the data flows of what are currently manual exercises in the respective command posts.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(22 Jun 2021) Hicks Will Send AI/Data Experts To Combatant Commanders
/ref>Courtney Albo
(8 Dec 2022) US Central Command’s new hub seeks to quickly push battlefield tech
Schuyler Moore CENTCOM CTO watch
*Jonathan Lehrfel
(7 Sep 2022) New U.S. military testing facility coming to Saudi Arabia
Red Sands The most effective processes are to be left in place after the exercises.

Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), an IAMD Battle Command System, is an Army project to unify its disparate anti-missile systems (such as the THAAD, and MIM-104 Patriot missiles) and their radars/sensors (such as THAAD's AN/TPY-2 radar, AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel, and Patriot AN/MPQ-65 radars). IBCS is being exercised in Fall 2021 ( Project Convergence 2021) to experiment with its connection to JADC2 and ABMS.Colin Clar
(10 Aug 2021) Army's IBCS Starts Operational Testing Next Month: SMDC's Karbler
/ref> JROC is appending IAMD capability (IAMD interoperability) to the JWC (Joint warfighting concept) (Monte Carlo simulations of hundreds of thousands of IBCS missile data tracks were generated by an Army Air Defense Artillery battalion exercising IBCS in 2020;Todd Sout
(20 Aug 2020) Army missile defenders defeat cruise and ballistic missiles nearly simultaneously
/ref> The test created terabytes of data to be queried.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 August 2020) IBCS Defeats 2 Missiles in Flight – But 100s In Simulation
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(20 August 2020) US Army buys new supercomputers to meet data analytics demand
/ref> i.e., "connect any sensor to any shooter and any command and control node" —Eric Wesley)

In a review of Project Convergence 2021 (PC2021) the director of the Network Cross-functional team (CFT) was able to state 5 takeaways for the Integrated Tactical Network:Mark Pomerlea
(8 Dec 2021) Five things the Army learned about its network at Project Convergence 21
PC21
#"the importance of a data fabric"—
#"a significant improvement in coverage from resilient wide-band satellite communications"—
#"the importance of an aerial tier to the network to improve the resiliency and range"
#extending edge mesh networkingAndrew Eversde
(17 Nov 2021) At Project Convergence, Army ‘struggling’ to see joint battlefield as it heeds ‘hard’ lessons
/ref>
#"the need for a joint operational common picture"– ("provide commanders with a single pane of glass n a computer screen)Amy Walker, Project Manager Tactical Network, PEO C3T Public Affair
(14 Jun 2022) Space provides key to Joint All Domain Command and Control
JADC2

Crisis

By September 2020 the joint modernization efforts to retain overmatch in a crisis were visible in the press reports covering the joint level (DoD and the military departments).

In the view of John Hyten, 11th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, in a crisis, each force is to have both a self-defense capability, and a deep strike capability,Connie Le
(9 Sep 2020) Hyten: New Warfighting Concept to Erase Battlefield Lines
/ref>Aaron Meht
(14 Aug 2020) ‘No lines on the battlefield’: Pentagon's new war-fighting concept takes shape
/ref>
operating under a unified command and control structure,Morgan Dwye
(10 July 2020) Making the most of the Air Force's investment in Joint All Domain Command and Control
/ref> simultaneously across the domains, against the enemy. The potential capability exposed by the use of AI in September 2020 posed a choice for the combatant commanders, who needed to select their top priority, by answering "What do you want and how do we do it?" in November 2020. Hyten then had an opportunity to shape the operation of the Joint requirements oversight council, by providing a common operational picture to the combatant commanders and their forces in the respective domains, to get to a position of relative advantage very quickly (faster than the enemy's OODA loop)."Finding and engaging high-value relocatable ground systems within rapid timelines" is the Air Force's operational objective in this JADC2 exercise —Eliahu Norwood, Greg Grant, and Tyler Lewi
(December 2019) A new battle command architecture for multi-domain operations: countering peer adversary power projection
Tie-in to MDC2, MDOScott Le
(19 Aug 2021) A Vision for Better, Faster C2 Decision-Making Across All Domains
/ref>

In FY2021, TITAN (Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node) was to undergo an Analysis of Alternatives ( AOA). TITAN is part of the network to integrate sensors and shooters in Multi-domain operations (MDO), in seconds. By FY2022 TITAN was meant to be a Program of Record, for CJADC2;PEO new
(27 Sep 2021) TITAN Brings Together Systems For Next Generation Intelligence Capabilities
" Multi Domain Operations (MDO) and Joint All Domain Operations (JADO), TITAN will be the first Intelligence ground station enabled by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) " --Palantir project additional Soldier touchpoints will assess capabilities of two prototype satellite ground stations for downselect in 14 months by FY2023, and follow-on phases III and IV.

Return to competition

By 2020 the Joint all-domain concept was converging on the need for the allies and partners to convince the adversary that it is in everyone's interest to return to competition,
Theresa Hitchen
(3 March 2020) Attack On US Satellites Focus Of Next ABMS Test: Goldfein
Joint Chiefs will attend the next ABMS test, which will span bases from Eglin AFB to Nellis AFB; Yuma Proving Ground to White Sands Missile Range. All the joint chiefs plan to be thereSydney J Freedberg J
(13 Mar 2020) ‘No Timeout’ In Future Wars: Army Gen. Murray EXCLUSIVE
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 April 2020) COVID-19: Army Futures Command Takes Wargames Online
"The competition phase is about ''deterring'' war"—Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. well short of conflict between near-peer adversaries. In 2021 the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army described the Army's role in the Continuum of military competition, a Joint concept.Chief of Staff Paper #
(1 March 2021) The Army in Military Competition
/ref>

Alliances and partnerships

An ongoing series of programs to strengthen relationships between the Army and its allies and partners is being implemented. These programs include demonstrations of cooperation, interoperability, and preparedness of its partners. For example, in 2019 the Army uses DoD's State Partnership Program, to link 22 National Guard Bilateral Affairs Officers (BAOs) with 22 allies or partners in the 54 countries in European Command's area to facilitate common defense interestsEric Schmitt ''The New York Times'' (14 July 2019) "Rehearsing for a Shadow War Against a Foe Embraced by Trump" pp. A1, A10.Reuter
(11 Jan 2020) Minister says Britain must reduce military dependence on U.S.: report
/ref> with the US. In all, 89 partnerships now exist. ''See: Foreign Area Officer (FAO) ''

DoD's Joint AI Center ( JAIC) has convened 100 online participants from 13 countries to discuss how to use AI in a way that is consonant with their national ethical principles, termed the 'AI Partnership for Defense' in 2020. For example, the US has a policy of human permission needed in order to trigger the automatic kill chains.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(23 Apr 2021) Artificial Intelligence, Lawyers And Laws Of War
/ref> In 2021 the 28th Secretary of defense committed to the department's ethical use of AI capabilities in a "responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable, and governable" way.

In 2019 the 27th Secretary of Defense Mark Esper identified the Indo-Pacific Theater as the priority theater for the United States.Aaron Mehta 'The Indo-Pacific Theater is "our priority theater"—Mark Esper.
(27 August 2019) Esper calls for new basing investments in the Pacific
Sites to be determined A multi-domain task force for the Indo-Pacific Theater is planned for a Defender exercise. However, in light of the DoD 60-day travel ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of CONUS-based troops participating in Defender Europe 2020 was reduced to those troops already in Europe.

In 2020 the Army lost 3 NTC training rotations to COVID-19.
JWA 20 was intended to exercise Multi-domain operations, and multinational forces, in EUCOM for 2020. ''See: Vostok 2018.'' EUCOM's Multi-domain task force is to be smaller than the Pacific's task force.Jen Judso
(8 September 2019) US Army's multidomain force emerges in Europe
/ref>Training Support Activity Europ
(16 September 2021) 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force Activation Ceremony
live stream. I2CEWS is a detachment. It is expected that the task forces are to be employed in the Defender exercises in both EUCOMJacob Kriss, CECOM Public Affair
(October 16, 2019) CECOM Empowering Strategic Support Area Readiness: Strategic Power Projection
Pre-positioned stocks "with enough equipment for an entire brigade or division, up to 15,000" and the Pacific. Defender Europe 2020 was to test the ability to deploy 20,000 Soldiers across Europe, for a 37,000-member exercise.
* Elements of the 1st Cavalry, 82nd Airborne, 1st Armored, 1st Infantry, and 3rd Infantry Divisions, 11 National Guard states and seven Army Reserve units were to rapidly deploy.
*# Reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) of a division-sized formation in EUCOM. A National Guard Brigade was to draw from pre-positioned stocks in EUCOM.
*# An immediate response force from 82nd Airborne Division was to conduct joint forcible entries.
*# A division command post spread across Europe was to conduct JWA 20, to test multi-domain operations (MDO) and other Futures Command capabilities, such as an initial prototype of Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN), a ground station for integrating the data feed between "sensors and shooters".
*#*While in Europe, the units were to spread out across the region for separate exercises with allies and partners to participate in their annual exercises.
*# A river crossing (see M1074 Joint Assault Bridge), forward passages of lines (one unit passes through a position held by another unit), and a maritime off-load mission was to have been conducted.
*# Army forces were to clear the training areas, return pre-positioned stocks,EUCO
(2020) DEFENDER Europe Trifold
/ref> consolidate, and redeploy (in this case, to home station). Returning troops were ordered to quarantine for two weeks without experiencing any flu-like symptoms. Social distancing, masks, and other protective measures were employed, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Defender Europe 2021 ran from March til June 2021, involving dozens of operations, using 28,000 troops from 26 countries, from the Baltic nations to Morocco. Defender Europe 2021 integrated a V Corps command post exercise in preparation for operations with a multi-national division. Allies and partners were to participate in the chain of command, as well.Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(10 February 2021) V Corps to be put through its paces before reaching full operational capability this fall
/ref> ''See Defender Europe 2022''
In April 2019 Germany's 1st Armored Division took the role of exercise High Command (HICON) at Hohenfels Training Area, primarily for German 21st Armored Brigade, the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Brigade, and their subordinate units; 5,630 participants from 15 nations took part in this Joint multinational exercise, which rotates the lead among the coalition partners. Germany's 1st Armored Division already had Dutch, British and Polish officers within its ranks.Christopher Stewar
Sgt. (April 8, 2019) Germany's 1st Armored Division Spearheads Allied Spirit X
/ref> The Army's 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, took part in the exercise.Spc. Yon Henderso
(April 17, 2019) Exercise brings American firepower to European partners
/ref> Six engineering advisor teams from 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade provided hands-on experience and testing of secure communications between NATO allies and partners.

A reciprocal exchange of general officers between France and the US is taking place in 2019, under the U.S. Army Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP).Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(July 19, 2019) Building relationships, interoperability through exchange program
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(25 Nov 2020) Budget Up, French Army Preps For Major Wargames With US
Wargames are all-out stress tests for command posts, but simulate troop levels. Planned for Warfighter 21-04. Such programs with the UK, Australia, and Canada have already existed with the US. A reciprocal pact for US and UK capabilities in Future Vertical Lift aircraft and Long Range Precision Fires artillery was signed in July 2020.Paul McLeary and Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 July 2020) US & UK Ink Pact On Next-Gen Aircraft, Long-Range Missiles
/ref> The UK and Australia are planning to participate in the US Army's Project Convergence 2022.Thomas Brading, Army News Servic
(12 February 2021) Army scales up joint capabilities as Project Convergence grows
/ref>
;Multi-domain task forces (MDTFs)

In April 2021, the Army announced that EUCOM's Multi-domain task force (MDTF),Todd Sout
(17 Sep 2021) Army’s first multi-domain task force in Europe gets to work
in Norway, including an I2CEWS battalion-sized element and a Theater Fires CommandAndrew Eversde
(4 Nov 2021) Army reactivates theater artillery command amid Russian build-up near Ukraine
European Theater Fires CommandJohn Gordon IV, John Matsumura, RAND corporatio

RR-A809-1 to control it, are to deploy to the European Theater, and are based in Wiesbaden, Germany. The Fires command is a headquarters to coordinate Long range fires (for ranges from 300 miles to thousands of miles) for the European theater.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(13 Apr 2021) BREAKING New Army Long-Range Units Head To Germany
/ref>

In April 2021, 3000 headquarters-level troops, including UK 3rd Division and French 3rd Division, came to Fort Hood to exercise Corps-level and Division-level staffs on Large-scale combat operations (LSCO).JASON DOUGLA
(15 Nov 2017) Fort Hood building new mission training complex
/ref> The Mission Command Center of Excellence (MCCoE) provided Opposing forces (OPFOR) and multiple dilemmas for the Warfighters to train on. III Armored Corps commander Pat White stated "the key goal of the exercise, to build international partnerships and increase interoperability, was realized".Sgt. Evan Ruchotzk
(21 April 2021) Warfighter 21-4 concludes, strengthens collaboration with British and French forces
/ref> British and French commanders noted the need to further develop electronic warfare and signals intelligence capabilities.Muriel Delaport
(3 Jun 2021) US, France, UK Hammer Out Multinational Corps Warfighting
/ref>

In May 2021, 7th Army Training Command led Dynamic Front 21 (DF21), a USAEUR-AF exercise in integrating joint fires for artillery units from 15 nations. The exercise was meant to increase the readiness, lethality, and interoperability for nearly 1800 artillery troops from the 15 nations at Camp Aachen, Germany. Later locations for DF21 included Vilseck Army Air Field, Germany, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, and Torun, Poland.Spc. Zachary Stahlber
(20 May 2021) Dynamic Front 21 shows the future of modern artillery
1800 troops from 15 nations held an Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities University, Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, and Torun, Poland

;V Corps FOC

In October 2021 V Corps attained Full operational capability (FOC) by completing Warfighter exercise 22-1 (WFX 22-1),Gabriella Sulliva
(13 October 2021) V Corps completes Warfighter 22-1 en route to becoming America's forward deployed Corps in Europe
/ref> in a series of command post exercises in Large scale combat operations (LSCO). The operations involved a combatant command, Active Army, Reserve and National Guard components, a Theater training command, and a sustainment command, as well as multi-national partners. V Corps was slated to lead the Defender Europe 22, as of October 2021.Jen Judso
(11 Oct 2021) US Army insists next year’s Defender Europe is not canceled

In 2020 the Secretary of the Army announced 5-month extended rotations to Indo-Pacific countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.Thomas Brading, Army News Servic
(13 January 2020) More deployments, stronger presence set for Pacific, says SecArmy
/ref> Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) task forces in the region have already been engaging in MDO-like exercises in concert with the armed forces of Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.

Two Multi-domain task forces are being requested for Indo-Pacom for 2021. 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade is regionally aligned with USINDOPACOM,Kyle Rempfe
(30 May 2020) Final SFAB activates with upcoming missions in Asia, as Army plans a Pacific Pathways restart
"5th SFAB has hired 90 percent of its required troops" and plans to keep one-third of the brigade's advisor teams there at all times, while the other teams train at home station (JBLM), for their assignments in the region.Kyle Rempfe
(1 Mar 2021) Security force assistance brigade wants a third of its members in Indo-Pacific at all times
/ref> The third and fourth ABMS Onramp exercises of Joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) are being planned in 2020, and 2021 for INDOPACOM, and EUCOM respectively. This is meant to bring key US allies into the planning for the Joint All-Domain Operations Concept, thereby enabling their "participation in planning, execution and then debrief" after a coalition exerciseTheresa Hitchen
(29 June 2020) Air Force Eyes European ABMS Demo In Spring
/ref> in overmatching the adversary,Theresa Hitchen
(24 August 2020) ‘Bold Quest’ To Demo Allied Connectivity For All-Domain Ops
" '.. incorporate and demonstrate' elements of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) — the capability to link sensors to shooters across air, land, sea, space and cyberspace — into Bold Quest" — need a joint experimental C2 environment for allies to connect to. and maintaining a Common operational picture (COP), to review measured responses, both kinetic and nonkinetic. The COVID-19 pandemic actually provided the impetus for rapid fielding of a DoD technology for separating Top secret, Secret, and Unclassified messaging, a necessary function for the Intelligence community. The JSIL connection of experimental networks with Army battle labs is a way to determine the bandwidth needed for these vignettes, to prepare Project Convergence 2021 for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).Richard Cod
(10 Sep 2021) Project Convergence: Exercise Shows Value In Data Weapons Check For The Digital Age
at JSIL

Defender Pacific 2021 focuses on the southwest Pacific region.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(19 Jan 2021) Facing Cuts, Army Chief Touts Pacific Role
/ref> The Army was to draw from a pre-positioned stock for its units, exercise its watercraft and an MDTF's long range precision fires. In 2021 the 28th Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, stated he expected to "review our posture in the Pacific from all aspects including presence, capabilities, logistics, exercises, infrastructure, and capacity building and cooperation with allies and partners" during his questioning by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Integrated deterrence is the objective of the 28th Secretary of defense, in joint exercises in Australian waters,Dzirhan Mahadzi
(29 Jul 2021) Admiral: Talisman Sabre Proves U.S., Allies Can Create Pacific Naval Force in Days
Expeditionary Strike Group 7, 31st MEU, Amphibious Squadron 11 with ''HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)''
in the South China Sea,ww3 high tension – UK / China / South China Sea High Tension update Friday, July 30, 2021
UK Carrier Strike Group 21 enters South China Sea and by US Special Forces soldiers (Green Berets) with Japan's Self-defense force (JGSDF) parachuting onto Guam.Defender Anthony Bryant (5 August 2021) Pacific 21: Special Forces Soldiers, JGSDF conduct bilateral operations in Guam
/ref>
On 15 September 2021 the ministers of defense, and foreign affairs, and the secretaries of defense, and state for Australia, and the US, respectively, namely Peter Dutton, Marise Payne, Lloyd Austin, and Antony Blinken signed statements of intent to jointly build nuclear submarines, and share National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) data, as well as a space framework.Colin Clar
(16 Sep 2021) Nuke Sub Accord ‘First Step’ For Deeper US-Aussie Cooperation; Aussies Get NRO Ties
"AUKUS" accord
*Stephen Collinso

Japan accords are coming as well
*Justin Kat
(17 Sep 2021) New Australia Nuclear Sub Deal Brings Big Questions, Hard Road Ahead
AUKUS is a trilateral defense pact
*Binko
(16 Sep 2021) Nuclear submarines for Australia just started a new Pacific military alliance against China!
*Barry Rosenber
(30 Sep 2021) The Navy Electrifies In A Transition As Monumental As Sail To Steam
*Justin Kat
(6 Oct 2021) Former Officials Call For AUKUS Submarines To Use Low Enriched Uranium
(LEU) for non-nuclear nations such as Australia ''See AUKUS''. On 24 September 2021 the heads of state of Australia, India, Japan, and the US (the Quadrilateral Security Dialog) met face-to-face to discuss cybersecurity, and fix supply chain vulnerabilities, such as electronic chip, and 5G technology.Colin Clar
(24 September 2021) Quad Pushes Chip Supply Security, 5G ‘Diversification,’ Cybersecurity
/ref> FY2021 marks the end of the Army's manpower expansion, in its effort to modernize.Jen Judso
(11 Oct 2021) 'No way around it' Facing budget cuts, Army braces to fight for modernization
/ref>
;Arctic strategy
In January 2021 the Army announced its arctic strategy, for arctic, extreme cold, and mountainous environments, which affect the NORTHCOM, EUCOM, and INDOPACOM combatant commands.Headquarters, Dept of the Army (HQDA
(19 Jan 2021) Regaining Arctic Dominance
/ref>Mikayla Easle
(2 Aug 2022) Army Tackles Arctic Challenges Alongside European Allies
NTCs come to Alaska A two-star multi-domain-enabled operational headquarters will be established for the Arctic.HQDA DCS G-3/5/
(2 Apr 2021) The Army Arctic Strategy
/ref> Soldiers will be receiving extra support for adapting to the Alaskan Arctic, U.S. Army Alaskabr>(21 Jul 2021) Alaska's Senior Army Commander
/ref>A
(12 May 2022) Army poised to revamp Alaska forces to prep for Arctic fight
In process beginning in 2022 and going forward.Army Public Affair
(31 May 2022) Army announces initiatives to improve quality of life for Soldiers in Alaska
AK initiatives in 2022: visits by VCSA, SMA, SecArmy, CSA, hiring 17 behavioral health providers, with a temporary surge in the interimVoice of Americ
(July 2022) The Inside Story: Alaska: America’s Strategic Frontier
The BCTs of US Army Alaska are reflagging as of 6 June 2022 from 1st SBCT/25th ID, and 4th IBCT/25th ID, to 1st IBCT/11th ID (Airborne), and 2nd IBCT/11th ID (Airborne) respectively; US Army Alaska is now 11th Infantry Division (Airborne) as of 6 June 2022.Andrew Eversde
(6 June 2022) Seeking morale boost in Alaska, Army formally re-activates 11th Airborne Division
/ref> The Bundeswehr is thinking of training in Alaska.Eve Bake
(6 Dec 2022) German Army delegation visit enhances partnership with US Army in Alaska

An Arctic Multi-domain task force (MDTF) is planned, to balance the interests of the 8 partners of the Arctic Council, which include Russia, and China as an observer nation. ''See Cold Response''
;Defender Europe 2022
Defender Europe 2022 started 3 May 2022, under the command and control of V Corps, which has had a forward-deployed Headquarters in Europe since 2021. The exercises will involve 11 allied and partner nations, including Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Great Britain. Defender Europe 2022 had been previously planned, on a longer timescale than the wartime events of 2022, such as the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. For example, a float ribbon bridge was erected by troops from Fort Hood, Texas who are deploying to Europe.Cameron Porter, 405th AFSB Public Affairs Office
(16 May 2022) US Army float bridge system employed in Poland during DEFENDER-Europe 22
The bridge came from pre-positioned stocks drawn from APS-2, located in Europe.Cameron Porter, 405th AFSB Public Affairs Office
(5 May 2022) 405th AFSB supports DEFENDER-Europe 22 with APS-2 bridge system, boats
Capt. Angelo Meji
(9 Jun 2022) V Corps wraps up DEFENDER-Europe 22
Two wet gap crossings, Poland to Lithuania
;PC22
Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and other allies and partners (such as universities) expect they will bring experiments or prototype capabilities to Project Convergence 2022. PC22 will require connection of the allies and partners; the connections were exercised during COMMEX 1B in June.Colin Demares
(6 Jun 2022) Army verifies info-sharing abilities with forces joining Project Convergence 22
"The testing included more than 50 technologies, according to the Army, and stretched from the Combined Joint Systems Integration Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and Fort Bliss in Texas to the U.K. and Australia". Global defender 2022 (GD22) will culminate with Project Convergence 2022 (PC22). Headquarters, Department of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 (DAMO-SSW
(29 Oct 2021) Global Defender 22
/ref> Todd Sout
(11 Apr 2022) The Army’s transformation begins with these new units
17 capability gaps identified In the week of 6 Jun 2022 planning for PC22 at Fort Bliss was finalized. The UK and Australian planners were added to the PC22 experiment; their concepts join the 100 techologies incorporated by USAF, Navy, Marines, and Space Force planners. The commander of AFC's Futures and Concepts Lieutenant Gen. Scott McKean, and peers for the services and allies took this opportunity to mutually review their plans for the FY2022 event.

The Synthetic Training Environment's One World Terrain (OWT) data sets are beginning to be used as operational planning tools, for example by V corps, and at PC20, and at PC21. As virtual maps, rather than paper maps, they can project scenarios which will also be used at PC22 in October and November 2022.Jen Judso
(15 May 2022) US Army’s virtual world becoming high-demand war planning tool
One World Terrain (OWT) data sets to be used at PC22 Oct and Nov 2022

In October 2022, the experiments from the previous Project Convergence were scaled up, from just Army in PC21 to joint and international exercises in PC22.Patrick Tucke
(21 Oct 2022) The Military’s Network Warfare Experiment Scaled Up This Year
/ref> AI was utilized not just for autonomous flight, but also for predicting where logistics would be needed in contested environments. PC22 experimented with some 300 technologies. Colin Demarest
(21 Oct 2022) Project Convergence shows JADC2 alignment, leaders from 3 services say
Interoperations "show the services are aligned and not disjointed".Maureena Thompson, Army Futures Comman
(16 Nov 2022) PC22 experimentation furthers US, partner military efforts to dominate future battlefield
Scenarios during PC22 included Tomahawk, SM-6, and LRHW missiles.Joe Lacdan, Army News Servic
(24 Oct 2022) Army of 2030: Collaboration key to Army modernization
82nd Airborne participated in the PC22 experiments, using newly developed equipment.Maureena Thompson, Army Futures Command; Sgt. Daniel Ramos, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment contributed
(20 Oct 2022) 82nd Airborne Soldiers engage in future warfighting experimentation
/ref>Jaspreet Gill
(15 Nov 2022) At Project Convergence, data management is Army’s biggest challenge
Chris Gordo
(8 Dec 2022) DOD’s New Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability Will Underpin JADC2 But Require Cultural Shift, Officials Say
Chris Gordo
(2 Dec 2022) Project Convergence
Lauren C. William
(9 Dec 2022) For DOD, 2023 Is All About Proving It Can Build A Tactical Cloud
DISA's Stratus

In November 2022, a contested logistics exercise, using an uninhabited Black Hawk helicopter under autonomous control was demonstrated at PC22.Sean Carberry
(2 Nov 2022) JUST IN: Autonomous Army Helicopter Proves Ready for Action

;PC23
Project Convergence co-locates from WSMR and YPG (the hub), to allies and partners.OCP
(10 December 2021) AUSA 2021: CMF #3 – Project Convergence
PC23 hub & spokeAndrew Eversde
(14 Oct 2021) Four Questions With Army Futures Commander Gen. John Murray
/ref>Jen Judso
(11 Oct 2021) US Army weighs taking future Project Convergence exercises abroad

Training and readiness

Under Schoomaker, combat training centers (CTCs) emphasized the contemporary operating environment (such as an urban, ethnically-sensitive city in Iraq) and stress units according to the unit mission and the commanders' assessments, collaborating often to support holistic collective training programs, rather than by exception as was formerly the case.

Schoomaker's plan was to resource units based on the mission they are expected to accomplish (major combat versus SASO, or stability and support operations), regardless of component (active or reserve). Instead of using snapshot readiness reports, the Army now rates units based on the mission they are expected to perform given their position across the three force pools ('reset', 'train/ready', and 'available'). The Army now deploys units upon each commanders' signature on the certificate of their unit's assessment (''viz.'', Ready). As of June 2016, only one-third of the Army's brigades were ready to deploy.The Hon. David Norquist, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Do
(10 Sep 2020) Closing Keynote: Day 2
''Defense News Conference 2020 : Sept 9 – 10'' 22:00 minutes By 2019, two-thirds of the Active Army's brigadesArpi Dilanian and Matthew Howar
(April 1, 2019) The number one priority: An interview with Gen. Mark Milley
Readiness (both current and future) and half of the BCTs of the Total Army (both Active and Reserve components) are now at the highest level of readiness.Thomas Brading, Army News Servic
(October 22, 2019) Half of BCTs now at highest level of readiness, as Army looks to add more
/ref> The FY2021 budget request allows two-thirds of the Total Army (1,012,200 Soldiers by 2022) to reach the highest level of readiness by FY2022 —Maj. Gen. Paul Chamberlain.Mark Cancian and Adam Saxto
(14 February 2020) 2021 Budget Spells The End of US Force Expansion
Reduced topline $740.5 billion; Army remains at 31 BCTs, 5 SFABs, and 11 CABs.Thomas Brading, Army News Servic
(19 February 2020) Army leaders save $1.2 billion to fund modernization push
After a set of 'Night court' cuts

:"Soldiers need to be ready 100 percent of the time."—Robert B. Abrams, FORSCOM commander, June 2, 2016

Chief of Staff Mark Milley's readiness objective is that all operational units be at 90 percent of the authorized strength in 2018, at 100 percent by 2021, and at 105 percent by 2023.David Vergu
(October 9, 2018) Army readiness, lethality increasing amid troubled world, says chief of staff
/ref>Mark Cancia
(25 March 2019) 2020 Budget: One Half Step Towards A Great Power Strategy
Notes Army's difficulty reaching end-strength objectives.
The observer coach/trainersSgt. LaShawna Custom, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Comman
(March 27, 2019) OC/Ts improved readiness during Roving Sands 19
Observer-Coach/Trainer at the combat training centers, recruiters,Gary Sheftick, Army News Servic
(May 13, 2019) Large cities see jump in recruits
/ref> and drill sergeants are to be filled to 100 percent strength by the end of 2018.AUS
(October 26, 2018) 'Atrophied’ Recruiting Strategy Being Overhauled
surge operation in 22 cities, 3 other actions In November 2018, written deployability standards (Army Directive 2018–22) were set by the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army; failure to meet the standard means a soldier has six months to remedy this, or face separation from the Army.Army Directive 2018–2
(8 Nov 2018) Retention Policy for Non-Deployable Soldiers
*Joe Lacdan, Army News Servic
(November 15, 2018) Non-deployable directive to help Army work toward more 'lethal' force
*Laven
(20 November 2018) Non-deployable directive to help Army work toward more lethal force
/ref> The directive does not apply to about 60,000 of the 1,016,000 Soldiers of the Army; 70–80 percent of the 60,000 are non-deployable for medical reasons. Non-deployables have declined from 121,000 in 2017. The Army combat fitness test (ACFT) will test all soldiers;Kyle Rempfe
(1 September 2020) A 59-year-old Army and Marine vet, who served in Afghanistan, just graduated Army basic combat training
after a 10-year break in service. He went through Marine Corps boot camp in 1978 at the minimum, the 3-Repetition Maximum Deadlift, the Sprint-Drag-Carry and an aerobic event will be required of all soldiers, including those with profiles (meaning there is an annotation in their record ''See: PULHES Factor)''; the assessment of the alternative aerobic test will be completed by 19 October 2019.U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training Staf
(May 20, 2019) Army to conduct assessment of alternate ACFT events
/ref>

Soldier and Family Readiness Groups

By 2022 surveys of military servicemen, veterans, and spouses and family were indicating that financial and other difficulties were raising questions about the viability of an all-volunteer force.Karen Jower
(18 Jul 2022) Survey raises serious questions about the future of the all-volunteer force
/ref>Davis Winki
(19 Jul 2022) Citing recruiting woes, Army will shed up to 28,000 troops in next year

Soldiers and Army spouses belong to Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRGs),Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
(August 16, 2019) Soldier and Family Readiness Groups
/ref>Joe Lacdan, Army News Servic
(June 12, 2019) Army making improvements to Family Readiness Groups
/ref> renamed from (FRGs)Devon L. Suit
(October 17, 2018) Study reveals impact of Army Families on retention, recruiting
When spouses favor Army life, 93% of Soldiers stay; but when spouses do not, 44% stay in the Army. which mirror the command structure of an Army unit—the spouse of the 40th Chief of Staff of the United States Army has served on the FRG at every echelon of the Army.The US Arm
(Aug 9, 2019) Change of Responsibility Ceremony: Army Chief of staff and sergeant major of the Army
/ref> The name change to SFRG is to be more inclusive of single soldiers, single parents, and also those with nontraditional families. An S/FRG seeks to meet the needs of soldiers and their families, for example during a deployment, or to address privatized housing deficiencies,US Arm
(6 March 2019) US Military plans release of Tenant bill of rights
/ref> or to aid spouses find jobs.US Arm
(6 Feb 2019) Senior leaders discuss upcoming moves to ease family concerns
Army to receive authorization for direct hires of personnel, e.g., childcare workers As a soldier transfers in and out of an installation, the soldier's entire family will typically undergo a permanent change of station (PCS) to the next post. PCS to Europe and Japan is now uniformly for 36 months, regardless of family status Sean Kimmons, U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affair
(7 April 2022) Military children attend Japanese schools to immerse in culture
Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(June 11, 2019) Army lengthens tours for Soldiers in Europe, Japan
/ref> (formerly 36 months for families). Transfers typically follow the cycle of the school year to minimize disruption in an Army family. By policy, DoD families stationed in Europe and Japan who have school-aged children are served by American school systems— the Department of Defense Dependents Schools.Winifred Brow
(20 May 2020) Retiring Camp Zama teacher reflects on 33 years of service
/ref> Noncombatant evacuation operations are a contingency which an FRG could publicize and plan for, should the need arise. In 2021, a new Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is being tested by 300 families who are undergoing a permanent change of station (PCS).Devon Suit
(15 Sep 2021) Army tests new EFMP system, targets assignment process for select families
a new Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) being tested by 300 families

When a family emergency occurs, the informal support of that unit's S/FRG is available to the soldier.Strangers as family 32nd AAMDC helps Soldier, family, in need
/ref> (But the Army Emergency Relief fund is available to any soldier with a phone call to their local garrison.Devon Suits, Army News Servic
(11 August 2020) New Army Digital Garrison app serves as guide to on-post services
60 installations are currently on the app, which runs on iPhone or Android. Seventy-five Fisher Houses maintain home-away-from-home suites for families undergoing medical treatment of a loved one. The Army, Navy, and Air Force Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) are scheduled to complete their transfer to the Defense Health Agency (DHA) no later than 21 October 2021. This has been a ten-year process. The directors of each home installation's Medical treatment facility (MTF) continue to report to the commanders of their respective installations. This change transfers all civilian employees of each Medical treatment facility (MTF) to the Defense Health Agency (DHA).Army.mil Stand-to: Headquarters, U.S. Army Surgeon Genera
(Friday, 24 January 2020) Transfer of Army Medical Treatment Facilities
(MTFs) to Defense Health Agency (DHA), no later than (NLT) 21 October 2021.Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(6 December 2019) Surgeon general reaffirms promise of quality care during DHA transfer
/ref>) The name change links Soldier Readiness with Family Readiness. Commanders will retain full responsibility for Soldier sponsorship after a move, especially for first term Soldiers in that move.Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(15 August 2019) Army makes changes to Total Army Sponsorship Program
/ref>

In response to Army tenant problems with privatized base housing, IMCOM was subordinated to Army Materiel Command (AMC) on 8 March 2019.Army News Servic
(11 Feb 2019) Installation Management Command to realign under Army Materiel Command
*"We are deeply troubled by the recent reports highlighting the deficient conditions in some of our family housing. It is unacceptable for our families who sacrifice so much to have to endure these hardships in their own homes."—Secretary of the Army, Dr. Mark T. Esper and Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Mark A. Milley Reuter
(2019 summary) Reuters special report on military housing
/ref>Army Public Affair
(2 October 2019) Army senior leaders discuss progress in reforming the Military Privatized Housing Initiative
*U.S. Army Public Affair
(27 September 2019) Lt. Gen. Jason Evans confirmed as Army's new Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9
'DCS, G-9' was formerly known as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM) By 2020, AMC's commander and the Residential community initiative (RCI) groups had formulated a 50-year plan. The Army's RCI groups, "seven private housing companies, which have 50-year lease agreements" on 98% of Army housing at 44 installations, will work with the Army for long-term housing improvements,Kari Hawkins, AM
(21 January 2020) Army focuses on making installations number one choice for military families
U.S. Army Public Affair
(6 February 2020) Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy, other service secretaries, meet with housing executives
Lists 7 measuresDevon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(March 4, 2020) DOD working to add key provisions to tenant bill of rights
3 more provisions sought: "a dispute resolution process, the right to withhold rent until a dispute is resolved, and access to a building's maintenance history before the move-in date" and remediation.Karen Jower
(22 Oct 2021) 50,000 military families in 38 privatized housing communities see new ownership
Clark Realty Capital, and Lincoln Military Housing have sold their properties to Michaels Organization, and Liberty Military Housing respectively (except for the former Lincoln housing at Fort Sam Houston, Texas which was transferred to Hunt Military Communities)Davud Roz
(28 Dec 2021) Why a company guilty of ‘pervasive fraud’ remains one of the Pentagon’s biggest landlords
Balfour Beatty Communities LLC
*M. B. Pell, Reuter
(18 Jun 2019) Air Force landlord falsified records to boost income, documents show
/ref>

In 2020 Secretary McCarthy determined that the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) program has failed to meet its mandate,Haley Britzk
(19 Nov 2020) The Army's ‘complete failure’ led to this private's suicide after she was sexually assaulted, parents say
/ref> particularly for young unmarried Soldiers at Fort Hood and Camp Casey, South Korea.Ryan Morgan
(8 Dec 2020) Video: Army Secretary says Army's sexual assault prevention program ‘hasn't achieved its mandate’
/ref> Missing soldiers were previously classified as Absent without leave until enough time has elapsed to be denoted deserters, rather than victims of a crime; the Army has established a new classification for missing Soldiers, to merit police investigation.Scott Maucion
(16 Oct 2020) Army will now assume soldiers are missing and not AWOL after multiple deaths this summer
/ref>The U.S. Arm
(8 Dec 2020) Secretary of the Army McCarthy addresses the report of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee
/ref>U.S. Arm
(8 Dec 2020) Army Senior Leader Message to the Force(8 Dec 2020) Independent Review TimelineU.S. Army (8 Dec 2020) Secretary McCarthy holds Fort Hood Leaders Accountable, Announces New Investigations
detailing actions taken, at III Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 6th Military Police Group (Criminal Investigation Command)

In response to the report of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee, the Army has established the People first task force (PFTF), an Army-wide task force that is headed by 3 chairs: 1) Lt. Gen. Gary M. Brito, 2) Diane M. Randon, and 3) Sgt. Maj. Julie A.M. Guerra, who are: 1) the deputy chief of staff G-1, 2) the assistant deputy chief of staff G-2, and 3) the assistant deputy chief of staff G-2 Sgt. Maj. respectively.Devon Suit
(21 Dec 2020) People first: New task force seeks Army-wide changes
/ref> Cohesion assessment teams (CATs), part of the People first task force, work with brigade commanders on their brigade's command climate. The Cohesion assessment team interviews members of that brigade or battalion, to identify any problems. The CAT then works with the unit commanders to address the root causes of those problems.Davis Winki
(5 May 2022) Army makes new cohesion assessment teams permanent
Cohesion assessment teams (CATs) On 13 May 2022 Fort Hood's ''People First Center'' opened its doors; the center is to offer immersive experiences for participants over several days, centered on "family advocacy, sexual harassment and assault prevention, equal opportunity, resiliency, substance abuse, suicide reventionref name= cacNeeded >Davis Winki
(27 May 2022)
suicide prevention Data needs CAC (The Senate Armed Services Committee is requesting that the military track suicides by MOS.),Leo Shane II
(21 Jul 2022) The military may be required to start tracking suicides by job assignments
and spiritual readiness ... all housed at the center with training focused on immersion", collocated with subject matter experts. III Armored Corps Public Affair
(13 May 2022) Fort Hood’s novel People First Center officially opens doors
Davis Winki
(27 Jun 2022) Army takes sweeping look at how new soldiers are welcomed across the force

*Davis Winki
(10 Nov 2021) Will ‘reception companies’ help the Army’s PCS woes? SMA thinks so

USAR mobilization

:''See: Soldier Readiness Processing's mobilization and force generation installations (MFGIs) have fluctuated from two primaryCapt. Joselyn Sydnor
653rd Regional Support Group (July 17, 2019) Bliss MSF ROC drill tests MFGI capabilities
Mobilization Support Force (MSF). installations (2018) to an envisioned eleven primary and fourteen contingency MFGIs, in preparation for future actions against near-peers.Sgt. 1st Class Brent Powel
(September 26, 2019) Reserve brigade marks historic first with multi-state field training exercise
*Capt. Joselyn Sydnor �
(October 2, 2019) 30th ABCT mobilization identifies challenges, successes of expansion
653rd Regional Support Group was mobilized as the Fort Bliss Mobilization Brigade; the mobilization of 30th ABCT was used to test out the mobilization process of the reserve component of the Army. Linda Gerro
(28 August 2020) U.S. Army Reserve aviation brigade adapts to COVID-19 challenges by conducting local command post exercise
11th ECAB local command post exercise without downtrace units

National Guard training

The 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau, as director of the Army National Guard, plans to align existing ARNG divisions with subordinate training formations.Staff Report, National Guard Burea
(1 August 2020) Army National Guard to establish eight Divisions by aligning existing ARNG Division Headquarters with down-trace formations for training
/ref> This plan increases the number of divisions in the Total Army from 10 to 18, and increases the readiness of the National Guard divisions, by aligning their training plans with large-scale combat operations. Additional advantages of the August 2020 plan are increased opportunity for talent management, from the Company to the Division level, and opportunity for leader development unfettered by geographical restriction.

"Associated units" training program

The Army announced a pilot program, 'associated units', in which a National Guard or Reserve unit would now train with a specific active Army formation. These units would wear the patch of the specific Army division before their deployment to a theater; 36th Infantry Division (United States)

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