1st US Infantry Division Inactive for a month

[Konev]

Gents,

In its part of transformation and restructuring of the Army in Germany, yesterday (6 July) the US 1st Infantry Division cased its colors for its move to Fort Riley, Kansas.

[ps: No word yet if this involves the re-flagging of the 24th ID currently at Fort Riley. My bet is that is what happens since every tranformation and restructing document I have seen does not show the 24th ID at all, either in the Active forces or the National Guard. Probably the same for the 7th ID when the 4th ID moves from Fort Hood, Texas to Fort Carson, Colorado]

koev

[Konev]

Gents,

LATE WORD AND CONFIRMED!!!!

24th Infantry Division HQ will reflag as HQ, 1st ID on 1 August.

Source: Official web site 1st ID (invitation to all veterans of 1st ID, in schedule of events that day.)

Will look tonight to see if I find out the fate of the National Guard Brigades currently assigned to 24th ID.

konev

[Pruitt]

Konev,

The US Army is turning over bases in Germany to the Germans. That means the 1st Armor Division and the 1st Infantry Division will return all their European units to the Continental US. The 1st Infantry is already present in Fort Riley with its 1st Brigade, which has been in Fort Riley for a long time. I did find that several 1st INFDIV units in Europe will be re-flagged to Army level units.

The 24th Infantry Division is an invention of the generals. It is composed of three National Guard Brigades, but to my knowledge has no divisional troops such as Aviation units or a Engineer Brigade HQ assigned. In my best guess, the Army wanted to make another Division HQ unit, but did not wish to employ National Guard Generals to command it. There would be quite a competition between Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina over which state would get the Commanding General. The HQ at Fort Riley is only responsible for training the three National Guard Brigades. If the division would be mobilized, there are no Reserve or National Guard Divisional units to fill it out. This says to me the Brigades would be sent in piecemeal.

There is another similar division, the 7th Infantry Division, that also commands three National Guard Infantry Brigades (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oregon).

The 1st Armor Division will be stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. Fort Bliss has never had a full division there before, only an Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 3rd. I am neglecting to mention that one of the four manuever Brigades will go to Fort Knox.

I am waiting to see what the US Army does with the 24th and 7th Divisions. Regular Army Divisions have gone to a 4 brigade setup. No National Guard Divisions will go there, because there are no funds for such a move. Yet, interestingly, the individual National Guard Brigades (like ours in Louisiana) are announcing they will go to the new brigade structure. These things do not make sense, and I like to read up on these matters.

Pruitt

[Deathrider6]

Originally Posted by Pruitt

I am neglecting to mention that one of the four manuever Brigades will go to Fort Knox.

Isn't the Fort Knox brigade going to be part of the 1st Infantry Division? I've heard that the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division has already been stood up at Riley. I also heard that the 3rd ACR was getting moved to Hood. Anyone know.

[Pruitt]

I downloaded the 2004 proposed Base re-alignment plan a while back. It is not where I thought I had put it. I will look for my file and check it out.

Pruitt

[Konev]

Gents,

ok. Checking three sites:
globalsecurity.org
Fort Riley's official site
The Guard file I downloaded showing the composition of the new BCT here is what I have come up with:
24th ID at this minute has three Brigades assigned:
30th Enhanced Heavy Separate Brigade (North Carolina NG)
48th Enhanced Heavy Separate Infantry Brigade (Mech (Georgia NG)
218th Enhanced Separate Brigade (South Carolina NG)

In the reorganization to the new UA/BCT cconcept and the reorganization of the NG Divisions, here is what will happen:
30th Brigade transfers to the 29th ID
48th Brigade transfers to the 35th ID
218th Brigade transfers to the 35th ID

The 35th ID bTW had the 66th, 67th and 149th Brigades. Their fate
66th looks like will turn into an Area Support Group
67th already has turned into a ASG
149th Brigade transfers to the 38th ID

If the same thing happens to the 7th ID, here we go:
7th ID (globalsecurity.org) has:
39th Infantry Brigade (Light, Separate)(Arkansas NG)
41st Infantry Brigade (Light, Separate)(Oregon NG)
45th Infantry Brigade (LIght, Separate)(Oklahoma NG)

new organization:
39th Brigade transfers to the 36th ID (Texas NG)
41st Brigade transfers to the 40th ID (California NG)
45th Brigade transfers to the 35th ID

So not to confuse everyone, here is what is at Fort Carson right now:
Headquarters, 7th ID
2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (currently in Iraq)
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (currently in Iraq)

2nd Brigade gets reflagged to one of 4th IDs Brigades (1st, 2nd, 4th) {note: its a Heavy Brigade already]
3rd Brgade (no change)
3rd ACR (will probably return to Ft Carson, then get reflagged to 4th ID Brigade)

4th ID units:
1st,, 2nd and 4th I do not know, although its a best bet that one of them will get reflagged to 3rd ACR when it returns from Iraq.

konev

[Slug]

Originally Posted by Konev

Gents,
ok. Checking three sites:
globalsecurity.org
Fort Riley's official site
konev

That was alot of work you just did.
Welcome aboard.
My name is Slug.

[Konev]

Slug,

Thanks. My head was hurting for about an hour after I posted the message.

Glad nobody asked for the Battalion designations. It would take me two days.

konev

[Pruitt]

Konev,

I downloaded my map from Army Magazine website. The plan is for:
1st Armor Division at Fort Bliss with four brigades
1st Infantry Division, three brigades at Fort Riley, one brigade at Fort Knox
2nd Infantry Division, three brigades at Fort Lewis, one in Korea
3rd Infantry Division, three brigades at Fort Stewart, one at Fort Benning
3rd Armored Cavalry regiment at Fort Hood
4th Infantry Division, four brigades at Fort Carson
10th Infantry (Mountain) Division, three brigades in Fort Drum, one at Fort Polk
25th Infantry Division, two brigades in Hawaii, two brigades in Alaska
82nd Airborne Division, four brigades at Fort Bragg
101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division, four brigades at Fort Campbell
2nd Armored Cavalry in Germany
173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy

If you got a headache finding data you found above, think how I feel! I used to keep up with these things! Now it is all screwed up!

There is a problem in some of the Brigade transfers you mentioned. The 39th Infantry Brigade is a Light Infantry Brigade, the 36th Infantry Division is Mechanised Infanty. The 45th Infantry Brigade is another Light Infantry Brigade and the 35th Infantry Division is Mechanised Infantry. The 41st Infantry Brigade is a Light Infantry Brigade and the 40th Infantry Division is Mechanised Infantry. The 48th Infantry Brigade and 218th Infantry Brigade to the 35th Infantry Division may work as they are all Mechanised. The 30th Infantry Brigade to the 29th Infantry Division will be ineteresting as the 29th is Light Infantry and the 30th is Mechanised.

The 35th Infantry lost its Nebraska Infantry Brigade several years ago when it converted to a support brigade. Now it is losing its Illinois and Kansas brigades? The original 35th Infantry Division was the National Guard units of Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas and was nicknamed the "Santa Fe Division". Now the Combat elements will be from Oklahoma, Georgia and South Carolina? That is still only three brigades!

If I ever get this sorted out and coherent, my Senators and Representative are going get a very scathing letter on the mess that has been made!

Pruitt

[Konev]

Pruitt,

According to the briefing paper I have about the reorganization of the NG Brigades, this is how the 35th ID will shape up:

35th Infantry Division
HHC, 35th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment
2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment
634th Brigade Support Battalion
Special Troops Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment
1st Squadron, 279th Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment
700th Brigade Support Battalion
Special Troops Battalion, 45th Brigade Combat Team
48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion, 118th Fied Artillery Regiment
148th Brigade Support Battalion
Special Troops Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team
218th Armored Brigade Combat Team
1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment
1st Squadron, 263rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion, 178th FIeld Artillery Regiment
163rd Brigade Support Battalion
Special Troops Battalion, 218th Brigade Combat Team
Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division (Arkansas NG)
1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment
1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment
1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment
1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment
2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment

I do not know yet the organization of the Fires or Sustainment Brigades yet

konev

[Pruitt]

Konev,

This is getting curiouser and curiouser! One unit you list in the 218th Infantry Brigade, S.C. ARNG, is actually from Kansas (2/137 INF)! The South Carolina National Guard has listed the 4/118th Infantry Battalion as part of that brigade. After seeing what else those "boys" in the Pentagon cooked up, it is intirely possible!

Pruitt

[Konev]

Pruitt,

I just took a look at the SC NG's page for the 218th. Based on what I have seen on the Active duty Brigades, here is what I think will happen:

218th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (EsB)(renamed to Armored BCT)
1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment (no change)
2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment (reflagged 4th Bn. 118th)
1st Squadron, 263rd Cavalry Regiment (reflagged from 1/263 Armor)*
1st Battalion, 178th FIeld Artillery Regiment (no change)
163rd Brigade Support Battalion (renamed from 163rd Support Battalion)
Special Troops Battalion, 218th Brigade Combat Team (former HHC, 178th Eng Bn.)
*B Troop, 202nd Cavalry assigned to 1/263 Armor

E Battery, 263rd ADA will probable be inactivated.
218th MI Company will be assigned to the STB.

If there is a Signals Company somewhere in the SC NG, it will also be assigned to the STB.

Think that is a weird feeling, try this:
I saw in the 1st ID's homepage that 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry (the famous "Quarterhorse") were reflagged as the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry and reassigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Imgaine this for a picture, the officers leading the platoons in the front and the Senior NCOs in the back of the platoon wearing their Cavalry Stetson's and the rank and file soldiers wearing the maroon berets of Airborne (I've got the picture!!!)

Don't feel so bad. Supposedly 9 of the current Brigades are going to be either inactivated or redesignated.

I'll put together a list of the current Brigades and the future Brigades

BTW, there is supposed to be 4 BCT and an Aviation Brigade for each of the Acitve Divisions, right? Well, some planner either couldn't add right or they some body screwed up real bad. After all the changes are done, 4th ID LOSES its Aviation Brigade. Thats right, there are only to be 11 Combat Aviation Brigades in the Active Army. 10 to the Divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th Mtn. 82nd, 1st Armd., 1st Cav., 25th 1 each and 101st 2 each) and 12th CAB (V Corps). [yup, just double checked the paper.]

konev

[Pruitt]

Konev,

Usually the Army does not give away one state's Infantry Regiment number to another. The only case I have seen was when the 123 Infantry was raised in Illinois after WW 2. The 123rd was raised in World War 1 as an Alabama unit, but was dissolved when it got to France and the personnel used as fillers. After WW 1, Alabama asked for and used its other Infantry Regiment (167th INF REG), which served in the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. The 123rd was raised as a "draftee" regiment for WW 2 and attached to the 33rd Division after several Illinois Guard regiments were re-assigned.

I am going to assume that the 2/137 INF was attached from Kansas to the brigade. There are other brigades with units from out of their state. The 29th Infantry Brigade of Hawaii has a battalion from California attached.

I notice the 4th does not have a Fire Support Brigade or Engineer Brigade, either. Kind of weird, don't you think? Perhaps the Aviation Brigade will come from the Army Reserve?

Pruitt

[Konev]

Pruitt,

In the new UA/BCT concept for the Divisions, the Engineer Brigade is inactivated completely. The assigned Engineer Battalions are inactivated (HHC, Engineer Bn becomes the STB, the remainder of the companies are assigned directly to the Combat Battalions. That's why they're so big!)

The HHB, Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is redesignated HHB, Fires Brigade

All of the Divisions will retain theirs. With all of the FA Battalions going to the Brigades, the Firest Brigade will consist of an HHB, A Special Troops Battalion, a Brigade Support Battalion and exactly one (ONE!) FA Battalion, usually the one with the MLRS. The Birgade will be filled out in deployment by the Corps Fires Brigade.

konev

[thomas.tmcc]

hi so does this mean the US army is pulling out of europe alltogether ? ..

thomas