US Army names Austin US Army’s AFC headquarters

The U.S. Army made Austin, Texas, headquarters for the Army Futures Command (AFC). The command began operations on July 1, and will lead the Army's future force modernization efforts. It is expected to assess the future operational environment, emerging threats and new technologies to develop and deliver concepts, requirements, future force designs and modern materiel solutions to meet our Soldiers' wartime needs.

The Army says establishment of this command marks the most significant reorganization of the institutional Army since 1973, when it created U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC). The AFC is different in its structure and design, and has its headquarters in Austin to better partner with academia, industry and innovators in the private sector.

The AFC will continue the Army’s focus of increasing future readiness and strengthening its combat formations. It will provide soldiers the weapons and equipment they need, when they need them, and will oversee the Army’s eight cross-functional teams (CFT). Each CFT is aligned against the Army’s six modernization priorities and is expected to facilitate faster acquisition decision-making by Army senior leaders to meet the needs of the future force and Army Vision.

This four-star command compliments the U.S. Army’s other four-star command headquarters including Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command and Army Materiel Command, and is scheduled to reach full operational capability in summer 2019 with 500 personnel.