WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army will undergo its most drastic repositioning in decades under a plan signed off on by President George Bush, Army officials said Wednesday.
Under the realignment, Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; and Fort Bliss, Tex., will each receive two additional combat brigades as the Army grows by 65,000 active-duty soldiers, The New York Times reported. Additional support brigades will be based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Tex.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort Polk, La., the Times said.
Meanwhile, two heavy brigades stationed in Germany will stay at least two years longer, until 2012 and 2013. Even after they return stateside, the Army will keep more than 37,000 troops in Europe -- about 10,000 more than previously planned.
In all, one-third of the Army will be based at different stations by 2011, the newspaper said.
"The Army is undergoing the largest transformational change since 1942," said Gen. Richard Cody, the Army vice chief of staff.
The active-duty Army is scheduled to reach 547,000 troops with 48 brigade combat teams, up from from 33 in 2003.
