Reorganization of the 25th Infantry Division

A principal objective of the 2004 and 2005 Army Modernization Plans was to create a more relevant and ready Army to respond to the threats facing America. A key objective was to reorganize the Army in order to increase the number of cohesive deployable units and to improve unit and personnel stability. Reorganizing to a modular designed force, the Army standardized combat, combat support and combat service support unit designs and moved from a division-centric force the Army has had since WWII to a brigade-centric force. The ten Army Active Component combat divisions completed their conversion to a brigade-centric force by 2009. The 25th Infantry Division underwent its modular conversion in the FY 2005-2007 timeframe.

Modular Organization of the 25th Infantry Division
The Army initially announced in 2004 that the 25th Infantry Division would modular convert to six maneuver brigade combat teams, two Stryker, three infantry and one airborne. In addition, a combat aviation brigade and an expanded division headquarters would be formed. In 2005 the Army reduced the number of infantry brigade combat teams to be formed from three to one.

An infantry or airborne brigade combat team basically consists of a headquarters, two infantry battalions, a cavalry reconnaissance squadron, a direct support field artillery battalion, a support battalion and a special troops battalion consisting of a headquarters and headquarters company, an engineer company, a military intelligence company, a signal company and a military police platoon.. A full strength infantry or airborne brigade combat team numbers approximately 3500 personnel.

A Stryker brigade combat team basically consists of a headquarters and headquarters company, three infantry battalions, an infantry anti-tank company, a cavalry reconnaissance squadron, a direct support field artillery battalion, a support battalion and one each engineer, military intelligence and signal companies. The brigade is mounted on approximately 300 Stryker 19-ton armored wheeled vehicles. At full strength a Stryker brigade combat team numbers approximately 3900 personnel. See the information on Stryker Brigades in The Division section for further details on the 25th Division’s Stryker brigade combat teams.

Also in October 2005 the Army announced that there would be eleven combat aviation brigades in the Active Component, ten of which were to be affiliated with divisions. The official designation for the 25th’s brigade is Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The Combat Aviation Brigade consists of two reconnaissance/attack helicopter cavalry squadrons, one assault (lift) battalion, a general support aviation battalion, and an aviation support battalion.

The 25th Infantry Division Headquarters was initially organized to consist of a mobile command group, a main command post for planning and analysis and two tactical command posts. The division headquarters relied on the division special troops battalion for support and communications. The special troops battalion consisted of a battalion headquarters and headquarters company, a signal company, and the division band. In January 2010 in order to increase effectiveness in the command and control of division-level operations the division special troops battalion was inactivated with its assets modified and merged with a reorganized division headquarters into a headquarters and headquarters battalion. The headquarters and headquarters battalion consists of a headquarters and support company, an operations company, an intelligence and sustainment company and a signal company. Assets of these companies are task organized by the division headquarters as the mission dictates. The 25th Infantry Division Band is attached to the battalion.

Unit Inactivations
In order to transform from a division-centric to a brigade-centric organization fourteen units were inactivated or transferred from the 25th Infantry Division some of which had served with the Tropic Lightning since 1941 (See list of the units below).

Timeline for 25th Infantry Division Modular Conversion
The modular conversion of the 25th Infantry Division initially began with the activation of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) at Fort Richardson Alaska on 16 July 2005. All brigade elements were activated as of 16 November 2005. The 4th Brigade Headquarters, the Special Troops Battalion Headquarters Company and the 725th Support Battalion have previously served with the 25th Infantry Division.

In the first quarter of FY 2006 (Oct-Nov-Dec 2005) the 25th Infantry Division elements at Schofield Barracks officially commenced modular conversion. By the end of the third quarter FY 2006 ( 30 June 2006) the 3rd Brigade had reorganized as a modular infantry brigade combat team, the Division Headquarters had reorganized and the Aviation Brigade had reorganized as a combat aviation brigade. The 2nd Brigade began reorganizing in late 2005 from a light infantry brigade to a Stryker brigade combat team. By July 2007 the 2nd Brigade Combat Team had received its full complement of Stryker vehicles and was certified as combat-ready in October 2007.

25th Infantry Division Headquarters and Brigade Combat Team Stationing
On 27th July 2005 the Army announced the final decisions on stationing the 43 brigade combat teams and the 10 division headquarters of the Army’s Active Component. For the 25th Infantry Division the plan announced the following locations for the elements of the Tropic Lightning.

Schofield Barracks: Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Infantry) and the Combat Aviation Brigade.

Fort Richardson, Alaska: The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division was activated on 16 July 2005. All units are on Airborne (parachute) status.

Fort Wainwright, Alaska: The 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division was reactivated on 16 December 2006 using the assets of the inactivating 172nd Infantry Brigade (Stryker). The 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is also stationed at Fort Wainwright. It is attached to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.