FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas — The Department of the Army publicly released its statement on the effects of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act today.

The NDAA increases the Army’s end strength (Active, Guard, Reserve) to 1.018M soldiers.

Specifically included in the authorization is the return of an Aviation Training Brigade to Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) under First Army Division West and retention of the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion, which was formerly scheduled to deactivate.

“This a tremendous force multiplier for our organization, but moreover for our Army, increasing our end strength by approximately 137 Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, commander of First Army Division West. “As U.S. Forces Command’s executive agent for implementation of Army Total Force Policy, the re-activation of the 166th Aviation Brigade greatly enhances First Army’s capability to achieve the Army’s #1 priority of readiness. It further enables our ability to partner with Army Reserve and National Guard aviation units. Ultimately, it allows us to more effectively advise, assist and train these organizations through integrated pre- and post-mobilization collective training, providing combatant commanders trained and ready aviation forces in support of worldwide contingencies,” Colt said.

“This is a win for the Army and the nation,” said Col. Laura Knapp, commander of the III Corps’ 504th Military Intelligence Brigade. “Retaining the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion significantly contributes to Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos)’s capabilities as a power projection platform. We are continually engaged in combat operations overseas, and the 206th maintains a continuous presence in Afghanistan, supporting national objectives with critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) provides great synergy for the 206th to build combat power with our robust aviation operations and multi-disciplinary intelligence capabilities: the most diverse array of intelligence units on any FORSCOM installation,” Knapp said.

Click here for more information on the Army’s end strength:

Department of the Army announces force structure decisions for fiscal year 2017

For more information contact:
Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Public Affairs Office
(254) 287-9993
(254) 287-0106
1001 761st Tank Battalion Ave
Suite W105
Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos), TX 76544
usarmy.hood.imcom-central.list.pao-mr@mail.mil