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Army Force Structure Transformation
Throughout its history, the Army has transformed to keep pace with technology,
accomplish national strategic objectives, and defeat ever-evolving threats. For nearly twenty
years the Army’s force structure reflected a focus on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism
operations that dominated after the 9/11 attacks. The Army will continue to need capabilities
related to these missions. But in light of the changing security environment and evolving
character of war, the Army is refocusing on conducting large scale combat operations against
technologically advanced military powers. To meet these requirements, the Army must generate
new capabilities and re-balance its force structure.
Over the past year, the Army conducted a rigorous assessment of its force structure using
a process known as Total Army Analysis. Following extensive consultations with Congress,
Army leaders are moving forward with a significant force structure transformation that will build
on the modernization and organizational shifts of recent years.
This transformation will enable the Army to bring in new capabilities to meet
requirements under the National Defense Strategy. It will also allow the Army to narrow the gap
between force structure, which was designed to accommodate 494,000 soldiers, and current
Active Duty end strength, which is set by law at 445,000.
TAA decisions will bring down “authorized” troop levels to approximately 470,000
soldiers by FY2029. Guided by the results of the TAA process, the Army will shrink excess,
largely unmanned “hollow” force structure and build new formations equipped with new
capabilities needed for large scale combat operations. By bringing force structure and end
strength into closer alignment, the Army will ensure its formations are filled at the appropriate
level to maintain a high state of readiness. At the same time, the Army will continue to transform
its recruiting efforts so that it can build back its end strength, which is needed to provide strategic
flexibility, reduce strain on frequently deploying soldiers, and add new capabilities to the force.
New Capabilities
The Army has already begun re-capitalizing its major weapons platforms, many dating
back to the Cold War, with a modernization portfolio suited to deterring adversaries that have
leveraged new military technologies to grow more potent and aggressive. As part of its force
structure transformation, the Army will add more than 30 new or upgraded systems across six
critical modernization portfolios into current and new types of units. These priority investments
are essential for the Army to maintain overmatch on the future battlefield – from the theater to
the brigade level.
One of the most significant new force structure additions is completing the build out of
the Army’s five Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs). These task forces are designed to increase
the depth and scale at which Army forces can protect Joint and Coalition forces, conduct
intelligence gathering and synchronization, deliver non-kinetic space and cyber effects to shape
operations, and deliver long-range fires in support of joint force maneuver. These task forces are
new theater-level assets which include a headquarters and headquarters battalion, a multi domain
effects battalion, a long-range fires battalion, an indirect fire protection capability (IFPC)
battalion, and a brigade support battalion. Three task forces will be assigned to U.S. Army
