For Immediate Release

October 12, 1999

FORT LEWIS ON CUTTING EDGE
OF NEW ARMY REALIGNMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The "fundamental transformation" of its land forces announced today by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki "places Fort Lewis in the vanguard of our new military strategy of fast-deployable troops for smaller-scale conflicts," U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks said Tuesday.

          Rep. Dicks, a member of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said he received a briefing today from Army officials detailing the service's plans to alter the configuration of two brigades totaling more than 5,000 soldiers at Fort Lewis to respond better to emerging threats on short notice. One light unit, the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, and one heavy brigade, the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division, will both be converted into medium, air-deployable units that can be transported by C-17s and other aircraft to trouble spots around world within four days, he was told.

          The moves will be the first of a new strategy that was announced today in Washington by Gen. Shinseki, the Army's top military official, who sketched a new vision for the force that relies on wheeled vehicles, air-droppable equipment and faster-moving troops.

          At Fort Lewis, Rep. Dicks said, the change will come initially with the purchase of new equipment that will allow for a lighter and faster force. Among the systems that will be evaluated for use by these new brigades are the Light Armored Vehicle, an eight-wheel troop carrying vehicle currently used by the Marine Corps and by the Canadian armed forces, and the Armored Gun System, a light tank which is air-deployable and equipped with a lightweight 105-mm cannon.

          The congressman said that Fort Lewis was selected for the new configuration because of its maneuver room and vast training areas, as well as its co-location with McChord Air Force Base.

          Rep. Dicks said that the Army will begin the conversion immediately, with Fort Lewis playing a lead role. Dicks also said he was told that the Army will request a "reprogramming" of funds to implement the new strategy during the current fiscal year.


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