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A principal objective of the 2004 and 2005 Army Modernization Plans was to create a more relevant and ready Army to respond to the threats facing America today and in the future. A key objective was to reorganize the Army in order to increase the number of cohesive deployable units and to improve force and personnel stability. Reorganizing to a modular designed force, the Army will standardize combat, combat support and combat service support unit designs and move from a division-centric force the Army has had since WWII to a brigade-centric force. The ten Army Active Component combat divisions are all scheduled for modular conversion to a brigade-centric force. The 3rd Infantry, 4th Infantry, 10th Mountain and 101st Airborne Divisions and the Korea-based elements of the 2nd Infantry Division have completed their reorganizations. The 25th Infantry Division is undergoing modular conversion in the FY 2005-2007 timeframe. Beginning in FY2006 the 1st Infantry Division returns from Germany to Forts Riley and Knox and undergoes modular conversion. The 82nd Airborne and 1st Cavalry Divisions began modular conversion in FY 2006 as did the Fort Lewis-based elements of the 2nd Infantry Division. The 1st Armored Division will undergo modular conversion at Fort Bliss upon its return from Germany in the FY 2007-2009 timeframe.
Modular Organization of the 25th Infantry Division An infantry brigade combat team consists of a headquarters, two infantry battalions, a cavalry reconnaissance squadron, a direct support field artillery battalion, a support battalion and a special troops battalion consisting of a headquarters and headquarters company, an engineer company, a military intelligence company, a signal company and a military police platoon. All of these units are assigned to the brigade combat team. A full strength infantry brigade combat team numbers approximately 3500 personnel. A Stryker brigade combat team consists of a headquarters an headquarters company, three infantry battalions, an infantry anti-tank company, a cavalry reconnaissance squadron, a direct support field artillery battalion, a support battalion and one each engineer, military intelligence and signal companies. All of these units are assigned to the brigade combat team. The brigade is mounted on approximately 300 Stryker 19-ton armored wheeled vehicles. At full strength a Stryker brigade combat team numbers approximately 3900 personnel. See the information on Stryker Brigades in The Division section for further details on the 25th Division's Stryker brigade combat teams. In the early stages of modular conversion it had been indicated that sustainment brigades would be affiliated with divisions. However in October 2005 the Army announced that all sustainment brigades would be separate brigades without division affiliation as will be the case with the 45th Sustainment Brigade to be stationed at Schofield Barracks. A sustainment brigade is to consist of a mix of what were previously corps-level combat service support units. Also in October 2005 the Army announced that there would be eleven combat aviation brigades in the Active Component, ten of which are to be affiliated with divisions. The official designation for the 25th's brigade is Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The Combat Aviation Brigade consists of two reconnaissance/attack helicopter cavalry squadrons, one assault battalion, a general support aviation battalion, and an aviation support battalion. The Division Headquarters is the Army's primary tactical and operational war fighting headquarters according to published unclassified Army documents. It has a main command post for planning and analysis and two tactical command posts capable of controlling different types of operations simultaneously with up to six maneuver brigades of any type in combat and more in protracted stability operations. The Division Headquarters has no organic subordinate elements assigned to it other than a division special troops battalion that consists of a battalion headquarters and headquarters company, a signal company, the division headquarters company, the division band and a public affairs detachment. The Army had initially announced in 2004 that the 5th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division would be activated at Fort Benning, Georgia in the second quarter FY2006. In May 2005 the Army announced the brigade would be activated at Fort Knox. The Army had also previously announced that the 6th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division would be activated in the 2nd Quarter FY2006 at Fort Riley Kansas. The army planning went as far as determining unit designations for the brigade elements. Six of the units that would have been activated had previously served with the 25th. They were the 3rd Battalions of the 14th and 27th Infantry and the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, the 1st and 7th Battalions, 8th Field Artillery and the 5th Squadron, 9th Cavalry. That plan was cancelled with the Department of the Army's briefing of 27 July 2005 announcing a new brigade combat team and division headquarters stationing plan. The brigades for Knox and Riley were activated as brigade combat teams of the 1st Infantry Division.
Unit Inactivations Modular conversion is an evolving process and modifications to the reorganizations described above may occur as a result of operational experience.
Timeline for 25th Infantry Division Modular Conversion In the first quarter of FY 2006 (Oct-Nov-Dec 2005) the 25th Infantry Division elements at Schofield Barracks officially commenced modular conversion. By the end of the third quarter FY 2006 ( 30 June 2006) the 3rd Brigade had reorganized as a modular infantry brigade combat team, the Division Headquarters had reorganized as three command posts and a special troops battalion, and the Aviation Brigade had reorganized as a combat aviation brigade. The 2nd Brigade continues to reorganize as a Stryker brigade combat team to be completed by November 2007.
25th Infantry Division Headquarters and Brigade Combat Team Stationing Schofield Barracks: Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Infantry) and the Combat Aviation Brigade. Fort Richardson, Alaska: The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division was activated on 16 July 2005. All units are on Airborne (parachute) status. For additional information on how the brigade is organized see below and the 4th Brigade website. Fort Wainwright, Alaska: New home station of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) where effective on 16 December 2006 the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Stryker) was reflagged as the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division. The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is also stationed at Fort Wainwright.
Outcome: With the Army's initial intention to activate the 5th and 6th Brigades in 2004 there was speculation that these brigades were to eventually replace the division's Stryker brigades resulting in the loss of ten of the division's historic battalions. Of further concern was the possibility of losing the Tropic Lightning's traditional Pacific orientation by being spread from Hawaii to Fort Benning. With the stationing announcement of 27 July 2005 the issue was settled in favor of the 25th retaining its two Stryker brigades. Furthermore with the stationing of all four maneuver brigades, the aviation brigade and the division headquarters in Hawaii and Alaska, the 25th Infantry Division's historical Pacific orientation is preserved. The 25th Infantry Division is unique in organization among the ten Active Component divisions in that it is the only division to have two Stryker brigades, and two infantry brigades one of which is airborne.
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