The U.S. Army is doubtlessly the most lethal, technologically advanced force in the world. To maintain that position, we constantly apply lessons learned in order to make our army as efficient and effective as possible.

The redesign of the 4th Infantry Division is intended to increase the division's combat power and force projection ability, which will make the division even more effective in the global war on terrorism.

This redesign represents a shift in thinking in the Army, and it integrates new technology, reserve component forces, and a new approach to logistics.

In the past, we employed a design that worked well for deployment of an entire division when massive force was necessary in a certain area. Modular restructuring, based on the concept of Units of Action, will be more effective when a smaller, more agile, and decentralized force is needed.

The new Units of Action are designed to be fast, lethal, and have increased survivability compared to our current brigades.

Modular restructuring of the Army will accomplish these goals in several ways.

Support units will be associated with maneuver units all the way down to the battalion level, so augmentation from other units will not be as necessary. Thus, Units of Action will be more equipped for sustained operations than maneuver brigades in a traditional division.

Units of Action are designed to be deployed either with their division headquarters, as augmentation for another division, or as a separate force. The modular design will make the deployment process more efficient and smooth in addition to enhancing troop readiness.

Our role in the global war on terrorism has taught us to be prepared for a variety of missions, with or without prior notification.

Units of Action are designed with this lesson in mind, and are more prepared for deployment on short notice.

We have also learned that the active duty Army will be

Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz, Commander, Multinational Corps - Iraq , Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood

working side by side with Reserve Component Units during deployments.

"Train as you fight" is a favorite saying in the Army, and in order to follow that wise advice, we are integrating U.S. Army Reserve units and positions into our active divisions, and the U.S. Army National Guard is transforming its forces into units of action too.

With the transition to a modular design, some soldiers will see their missions change.

Flexibility has always been a prerequisite for soldiers, and as the Army changes, some of them will have to adapt to different roles. For example, artillery soldiers are accustomed to operating in pure artillery units, but they will now be integrated into Units of Action, and will now train on more infantry skills.

Engineer battalions will also be integrated into each unit of action instead of organized as their own brigade.

Soldiers have always been our Army's most valuable asset. This reorganization will help the Army place soldiers where they are most needed, allowing soldiers to perform at maximum efficiency, and making their units more agile and effective.

Fort Hood sets the example for other Army communities to follow, and I find it fitting that the 4th Infantry Division is one of the first divisions to undergo this modular redesign.

Our soldiers are the best in the world, and the Army's leadership is responsible for enabling them by providing excellent resources, effective organization, and valuable guidance. By instituting changes to make our forces more effective, the Army leadership is showing their commitment to keeping our Army at the forefront of innovation and technology.