FORT KNOX, Ky. (NEWS RELEASE) – The Department of the Army announced on July 9 a series of enterprise-wide force restructure decisions, including changes at Fort Knox which will result in a gain of 67 personnel. This makes Fort Knox one of only three Army installations that will grow as a result.
These decisions stem from $95 billion in cuts over 10 years related to sequestration and the Budget Control Act of 2011, as well as the need for the Army to better align units to meet current mission requirements. As part of these actions, the Army will reduce its active-duty end strength from 490,000 to 450,000 by fiscal year 2017. This news comes after another significant force restructure announcement made in June 2013 to reduce the number of active-duty Soldiers from a wartime-high of 570,000 to 490,000.
It was also announced on July 9 that the manning of all two-star commands across the Army will be reduced by 25 percent. The Fort Knox organizations commanded by 2-star generals are U.S. Army Cadet Command, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, U.S. Army Human Resources Command and 84th Training Command. The relocation of the Third Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and its 280 positions from here to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and the relocation of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command and its 550 positions from Fort Bragg to here was also announced.
The reductions across two-star commands--which were initially directed in August 2013–have been carried out by way of attrition, separation and retirement incentive programs, reorganizations and reassignments, which has allowed those commands to avoid involuntary separations. These reductions are expected to be completed by 2017.
The Third ESC, which was relocated here from Germany in 2007 as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decisions, will relocate to Fort Bragg to be collocated with its parent command, XVIII Airborne Corps, as the other two continental United States active component ESCs are already collocated with the corps commands they support. The Third ESC's move is expected to be completed by December.
"Our end state is to improve overall readiness by capitalizing on the synergy created by being collocated with our Corps headquarters as demonstrated during our recent deployment to Afghanistan," said 3rd ESC Commander Brig. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr. "I support the action; however, it is very bittersweet as Fort Knox and the surrounding communities have been tremendous partners and supporters of the 3rd ESC Soldiers and families. I know my Soldiers and I will certainly miss the community, as we've received unparalleled support through the years, including during each of our four deployments since this command moved here in 2007. We also appreciate all that the garrison and installation have provided our team. Soldier and Family services, facilities and training capabilities here are top-notch, and we've always truly felt like a part of the Fort Knox family."
The First TSC will relocate here because of the post's quality available facility space and mission support assets. The First TSC is expected to arrive here by July 2016.
Another announcement, separate from the Department of the Army force restructure announcements on July 9, was made about the First Army Division East headquarters–a two-star command comprised of 21 personnel–will be moving here from Fort Meade by October 2016. This action is part of First Army's "Bold Shift" transformation to more effectively support pre-mobilization deployment training. The number of personnel gained from this headquarters move has already been factored into the net gain of 67 personnel.
Congressman John Yarmuth issued the following statement on Fort Knox's potential growth:
"It's encouraging that the number of soldiers stationed at Fort Knox will not be cut as part of the Army's plans to reduce troop size by 40,000. In fact, the base will gain soldiers. We won't know what effects these Army-wide reductions may have on civilian employment at the base until September or October, but the concern doesn't end there. If Congress doesn't stop the scheduled sequestration budget cuts from being implemented over the next several years, we should brace ourselves for more rounds of substantial downsizing at our military facilities."
U.S. Senator Rand Paul issued the following statement regarding the announcement of Army personnel reductions and the impact on military installations in Kentucky:
"Kentucky has absorbed a disproportionate amount of troop cuts in the past and, while I am disappointed to see any more from Fort Campbell, it is reassuring to know the Army recognizes the value of our bases and backed away from its earlier plans for devastating new cuts."
The two other Army installations gaining personnel are Fort Meade, Md., with a net increase of 99 personnel, and Fort Gordon, Ga., with a net increase of 41 personnel.
