The U.S. Army unveiled a sweeping plan to overhaul how it fights, trains, organizes, and buys equipment, launching what leaders called the Army Transformation Initiative to keep pace with rapidly changing battlefields and emerging technologies. The directive aligns with an April 30, 2025, order from the Secretary of Defense and was laid out in a message to commanders signed by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy A. George, the Army’s chief of staff.
The initiative is built around three lines of effort: delivering critical warfighting capabilities, optimizing force structure, and eliminating waste and obsolete programs. It builds on the service’s Transformation in Contact effort, which uses prototyping and field experimentation to refine requirements and speed new technology into formations.
On capability delivery, the Army said it will introduce long-range missiles and modernized uncrewed aircraft systems, field the M1E3 tank, develop the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, and close gaps in counter-small UAS defenses. Command-and-control nodes will incorporate artificial intelligence to accelerate decision-making, while a shift to “agile funding” organized around capability portfolios aims to shorten acquisition timelines and speed innovation. “Adaptation is no longer an advantage — it’s a requirement for survival,” the memo states.
Force structure changes will shift personnel and headquarters toward combat units. “Every role must sharpen the spear or be cut away,” leaders wrote, adding, “We are eliminating 1,000 staff positions at HQDA.” The Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command will be merged under a single headquarters to align force generation, design, and development. Forces Command will be restructured into a Western Hemisphere Command by consolidating Army North and Army South. Multi-Domain Task Forces will align to theater headquarters, general officer billets will be trimmed to streamline command structures, and civilian talent policies will be revised to emphasize performance.
Army Aviation will be reshaped by reducing one Aerial Cavalry Squadron in each Active Component Combat Aviation Brigade, consolidating aviation sustainment, and targeting higher readiness. The service will convert all Infantry Brigade Combat Teams into Mobile Brigade Combat Teams “to improve mobility and lethality in a leaner formation.” Leaders added, “We are trading weight for speed, and mass for decisive force.”
On programs and procurement, the Army said it will halt buys of legacy platforms and redirect resources. “We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D, excess ground vehicles like the HMMWV and JLTV, and obsolete UAVs like the Gray Eagle,” the memo says, adding the service “will also continue to cancel programs that deliver dated, late-to-need, overpriced, or difficult-to-maintain capabilities.” As the document puts it, “Yesterday’s weapons will not win tomorrow’s wars.”
The Army framed the announcement as the beginning of a broader reform effort. “This is a first step. We have already directed a second round of transformation efforts to be delivered in the coming months.” The message, addressed to Army leaders across the force, called for sustained momentum: “Leaders, we need you to drive change to ensure we stay lethal, ready, and continue to build cohesive teams that take care of our Soldiers and families.”
“This We’ll Defend.”
