WASHINGTON - Several Army bases around the United States will gain thousands of new soldiers during the next few years under a reorganization plan the service is implementing.
The reorganization is aimed at making the Army's brigades - troop formations of a few thousand soldiers - more able to function independently when sent overseas. Each of the Army's 10 divisions is adding at least one new brigade of ground troops under the plan.
In 2004, Fort Drum, N.Y., will gain about 4,200 personnel as the 10th Mountain Division gains a brigade, according to figures provided by the Army. Fort Campbell, Ky., will add about 3,000 personnel to the 101st Airborne Division.
In Georgia, Fort Stewart will add 1,400 people, and the Fort Hunter Army Airfield will add 300 more, as the 3rd Infantry Division adds a brigade. Fort Benning will add 400.
Between October 2004 until September 2005, the Army plans to add 5,000 personnel to Fort Hood, Texas, as the 4th Infantry Division adds a heavy brigade.
The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment will leave Fort Polk, La., for Fort Lewis, Wash., and switch to the Stryker wheeled vehicle. But the Army will set up a new brigade, attached to the 10th Mountain, that will be based at Fort Polk, so the base will gain a net 300 people, the Army said. Fort Lewis will grow by 3,900 personnel.
Fort Richardson, Alaska, will gain 2,600 people.
These plans could change should any of these bases shut down on the recommendation of the Base Realignment and Closure commission in 2005, the Army said.
Between October 2005 and September 2006, the Army anticipates adding 5,300 personnel in a new brigade of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C. Another 3,800 troops will be stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. This heavy brigade will be attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, which is based at Fort Hood.
Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Riley, Kan., will both add a brigade attached to the 25th Infantry Division, each gaining 3,400 personnel.
The troops are coming from a temporary increase in the size of the Army. Despite all the growth, officials say ultimately the Army won't be much larger than its permanent authorized strength because the reorganization will cut down on the number of unassigned personnel who are in transit between jobs and assignments.
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