Transformers

The Army, after nearly a decade, has officially completed its transformation from a division-based structure to a brigade-oriented force and will no longer be required to provide annual reports to Congress on matter, according to a Federal Register notice released on May 22.

“The Secretary of the Army has certified that the internal transformation of the Army from a division-oriented force to a brigade-oriented force has been completed,” the notice states. “Further . . . the statutory requirement to submit an annual report is therefore terminated.”

The service was required to provide the reports by the fiscal year 2005 Defense Authorization Act. The Army's termination of the reports was officially certified on March 31.

The service, however, continues to transform. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno announced last June that the force would disband 13 brigade combat teams and reduce its end strength from a wartime high of 560,000 active-duty soldiers to 490,000 by the end of fiscal year 2015.

Since then, Odierno has compromised with the Pentagon to support an active-duty force of 440,000 to 450,000 soldiers. The Army, however, faces further cuts if full sequestration remains in place in FY-16; that could drive its active numbers as low as 420,000 soldiers, something Odierno has publicly deemed unacceptable.