Latest news with #ArmyFuturesCommand
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Tim Kaine says merger between TRADOC and AFC not expected to impact Fort Eustis
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — A merger of the Army Futures Command (AFC), headquartered in Austin, Texas, and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, is raising concerns among some community members. According to a release from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the army plans to undergo a transformation and acquisition reform, which would include streamlining its force structure, eliminating wasteful spending, modernizing inefficient defense contracts and restructuring the army force structure. Part of the reform includes the merger of AFC and TRADOC. The release states this will help 'ensure strategic readiness, efficiency, and modernization.' AFC's website states they currently have over 17,000 personnel worldwide and work to ensure United States soldiers 'remain at the forefront of technological innovation and warfighting ability.' TRADOC's website states they help to train, educate and build the Army. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, however, said the merger is not expected to impact personnel at Fort Eustis, where TRADOC is headquartered. 'Army leadership told me that, despite the merger of TRADOC and Army Futures Command, TRADOC operations will remain at Fort Eustis with no significant change to personnel levels,' Kaine said. 'This will provide continuity for servicemembers, their families, contractors and the Hampton Roads community. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to monitor the situation to make sure these assurances are upheld.' The full release of the Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform can be read in full below: ARMY-TRANSFORMATION-AND-ACQUISITION-REFORMDownload Continue to check for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Army Futures Command prepares for ‘significant transformation' as warfare sees an evolution
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The group in charge of modernizing the military will soon undergo one of the 'most significant transformation(s) the Army has seen in a generation.' Army Futures Command (AFC), based in downtown Austin, will soon merge with the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) after an order by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The order, issued on April 30, aims to divest 'outdated, redundant and inefficient programs.' A spokesperson with AFC told KXAN the Army Transformation Initiative will 'make the Army more lethal.' 'These changes will help the Army transform with urgency to meet the challenges in the priority theater, the Indo-Pacific and breakdown institutional barriers and inertia that undermine our transformation efforts,' the spokesperson said. ARMY-TRANSFORMATION-AND-ACQUISITION-REFORMDownload The spokesperson did not have details on what the merger will look like at the time. 'The army headquarters in downtown Austin is here because we wanted to be in a tech hub. We wanted to be with startups. We wanted to be with venture capitalists. We wanted to be with a center of academia,' said General Michael C. McCurry, chief of staff at AFC. AFC, according to McCurry, is designed to anticipate the future of war and figure out what technology and tools are needed. 'I was a young major in the Middle East during the global war on terror, and, you know, I remember the first day I saw a great big unmanned system,' McCurry said. Today, unmanned systems are commonplace. They can even be spotted on Austin's streets in the form of driverless cars. 'My number one goal is just to make sure it's never going to be a fair fight,' McCurry said. 'That our soldiers are armed with things that make it not a fair fight for the guy on the other side.' Driverless vehicles, like drones, once served as scouts that snapped photos of the enemy. The future could see these tools become the vanguard. 'I grew up in the cavalry, and we always said, 'make contact with the smallest element.' Well, now it's make contact with an unmanned element first,' McCurry said. Technology to protect soldiers a cornerstone of modern warfare, Army Futures Command says The general thinks first about protecting soldiers, whom he calls the 'silver bullet' of the U.S. Armed Forces. He has two children and a son-in-law currently serving. 'Other countries around the world fight a group of things, we fight with a formation of capability. And we try to build that around our soldiers,' McCurry said. McCurry said integrating soldiers and technology is the real future of war. 'Is it something that has to be done a long time where somebody won't be able to go to sleep? Is it something that's exceedingly dangerous, like breaching a minefield or penetrating an air defense line? Those things we want to do with machines.' Announced in July 2018, Army Futures Command's Austin headquarters was established by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Army to Cut 1,000 Jobs as Hegseth Orders Major Overhaul
The Army will scrap 1,000 jobs after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered it to undergo a 'comprehensive transformation' that will see it divest from 'outdated' and 'redundant' programs and downsize or close some headquarters, according to an April 30 memo. Hegseth wrote in the 'Deterring war, and if required, winning on the rapidly evolving battlefield, requires Soldiers who are physically and mentally resilient, rigorously trained, and equipped with the best technology available,' Hegseth wrote. 'To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems. 'Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities.' In a May 1 Related Stories 5/1/2025 4/29/2025 He also announced that the Army plans to eliminate 1,000 staff positions from its headquarters. 'Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield,' Driscoll wrote. 'Our continuous transformation is underpinned by strong, agile leaders who act on their initiative.' Hegseth said in his memo that the Army must prioritize investments that align with the Trump administration's strategy and ensure existing resources are used to improve things such as long-range precision fires, air and missile defense, and cyber and electronic warfare, as well as counter-space capabilities. Existing resources should also go toward building the 'Golden Dome for America,' he said, referring to a new missile defense system inspired by Israel's Iron Dome that has been championed by President Donald Trump. Contracts, Outdated Weapons Systems to Be Scrapped On that basis, Hegseth said he is directing Driscoll to implement a 'comprehensive transformation strategy,' under which it will streamline its force structure, eliminate wasteful spending, reform the acquisition process, modernize 'inefficient' defense contracts, and overcome what he said were 'parochial interests' to rebuild the Army. Eliminating wasteful contracts and excess travel funding, slashing spending on outdated weapons systems and 'unnecessary climate-related initiatives,' and revising civilian hiring and firing policies were among the changes Hegseth ordered. He said the Army must also downsize, consolidate, or close redundant headquarters. That includes merging Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command into one entity and merging Forces Command, Army North, and Army South into a single headquarters 'focused on homeland defense and partnership with our Western Hemisphere allies.' In addition, he called for the Army to consolidate and realign headquarters and units within Army Material Command, including Joint Munitions Command and Sustainment Command, to 'optimize operational efficiency and streamline support capabilities.' Hegseth also directed Driscoll to reduce and restructure manned attack helicopter formations and expand 'inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries.' The letter comes as the Trump administration continues its push to eliminate waste and fraud within multiple departments and agencies operating under the federal government. Col. Dave Butler, an Army spokesman, said that the potential savings under Hegseth's transformation strategy would amount to nearly $40 billion over five years. It's unclear, however, whether the House and Senate will greenlight the cuts, given that lawmakers have for years resisted efforts by the Army and Pentagon to scrap a wide range of programs. 'As the Army prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, our Nation requires her Army to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other force on Earth,' Hegseth concluded his letter. 'President Trump and I will not let this Nation down.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hegseth orders sweeping Army overhaul and consolidation aimed at countering China and Golden Dome capabilities
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday ordered a top-down transformation of the Army in a sweeping directive aimed at reorienting the service toward great power competition. With a sharp focus on countering China, developing space and counter-space capabilities, and accelerating the Pentagon's new Golden Dome strategy, the aggressive modernization effort directs the Army to cut aging legacy systems, restructure headquarters commands and more rapidly field new technologies. The memo ordered a merging of Army Futures Command, based in Austin, Texas, with Training and Doctrine Command, headquartered in Fort Eustis, Virginia, and merging Forces Command, U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South. "To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems," Hegseth wrote. New Army Secretary Praises Trump, Hegseth For Creating 'A Lane For Change' As He Zeroes In On Cutting Waste "Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities." Read On The Fox News App Hegseth wants the Army to be able to field long-range missiles capable of striking moving land and sea targets and achieve electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance by 2027 as the potential for conflict looms in the Indo-Pacific theater. The memo calls for reducing manned attack helicopter formations in favor of inexpensive drone swarms and the reduction of general officer positions to focus command structures on the warfighter. Hegseth Sends Strong Message To Iran And Houthis: 'You Will Pay' Hegseth ordered the Army to enable AI-driven command and control at theater, corps and division headquarters by 2027 and expand 3D printing for weapons. The memo also calls for bulking up the Army's presence in the Indo-Pacific and more joint exercises with allies in the region. The procurement of obsolete systems will be ended, per the memo, and "redundant or ineffective" programs will be canceled or scaled back, including manned aircraft and excess ground vehicles like the Humvee. The Army will review and cancel inefficient contracts and work to shift from program-centric funding to capability-based funding, and add right to repair provisions in all contracts, as well as implement performance-based contracting to reduce waste. The defense secretary also calls for reforms to hiring and firing systems, and reduced spending on climate initiatives, legacy sustainment initiatives and excess article source: Hegseth orders sweeping Army overhaul and consolidation aimed at countering China and Golden Dome capabilities
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Hegseth orders sweeping Army overhaul and consolidation aimed at countering China and Golden Dome capabilities
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday ordered a top-down transformation of the Army in a sweeping directive aimed at reorienting the service toward great power competition. With a sharp focus on countering China, developing space and counter-space capabilities, and accelerating the Pentagon's new Golden Dome strategy, the aggressive modernization effort directs the Army to cut aging legacy systems, restructure headquarters commands and more rapidly field new technologies. The memo ordered a merging of Army Futures Command, based in Austin, Texas, with Training and Doctrine Command, headquartered in Fort Eustis, Virginia, and merging Forces Command, U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South. "To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems," Hegseth wrote. "Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities." Hegseth wants the Army to be able to field long-range missiles capable of striking moving land and sea targets and achieve electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance by 2027 as the potential for conflict looms in the Indo-Pacific theater. The memo calls for reducing manned attack helicopter formations in favor of inexpensive drone swarms and the reduction of general officer positions to focus command structures on the warfighter. Hegseth ordered the Army to enable AI-driven command and control at theater, corps and division headquarters by 2027 and expand 3D printing for weapons. The memo also calls for bulking up the Army's presence in the Indo-Pacific and more joint exercises with allies in the region. The procurement of obsolete systems will be ended, per the memo, and "redundant or ineffective" programs will be canceled or scaled back, including manned aircraft and excess ground vehicles like the Humvee. The Army will review and cancel inefficient contracts and work to shift from program-centric funding to capability-based funding, and add right to repair provisions in all contracts, as well as implement performance-based contracting to reduce waste. The defense secretary also calls for reforms to hiring and firing systems, and reduced spending on climate initiatives, legacy sustainment initiatives and excess travel.
