Department of the Army March 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In order to transform the Army, meet the increased national security and defense requirements of the 21st century, maintain training and operational readiness levels of the force, and preserve a high quality of life for U.S. Army Soldiers and Families, the Army has identified the need to increase its overall size while continuing to restructure its forces in accordance with modular Transformation decisions. On December 19, 2007, the Army signed a Record of Decision (ROD) documenting its decision to proceed with growth of the Active and Reserve components of the Army by 74,200 Soldiers through establishment of several new Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) and Combat Support and Combat Support Service units (CS/CSS). The growth of the Army would allow for the adjustment of the composition of its forces to continue to accommodate Transformation objectives and create additional unit capabilities in high demand areas where mission requirements exceed current manning authorizations. The Army growth decision will result in increased demands for the use of Fort Benning. Fort Benning will prepare a Maneuver Center of Excellence EIS to analyze Grow the Army (GTA) site-specific requirements and additional actions needed to support Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) implementation at Fort Benning. In 2007 Fort Benning prepared a Final EIS for proposed Transformation and Base Realignment and Closure activities and signed a ROD selecting an alternative to proceed with several necessary projects and activities (Final EIS for BRAC 05 Realignment and Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, October 2007). Although Fort Benning itself will not experience permanent force structure growth beyond that analyzed in the BRAC 05 Realignment and Transformation EIS, it will be required to increase training of transient student loads in order to achieve and maintain the Army end-strength growth. The Fort Benning Maneuver Center of Excellence EIS will therefore consider a proposed action and reasonable alternatives for the Army to increase facilities at Fort Benning to accommodate training requirements related to BRAC, Global Defense Posture Realignment (GDPR), Army Modular Force Initiatives (AMF), GTA and other related stationing activities.