The U.S. Army has formally closed the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Eustis, Virginia, after 52 years of shaping the training, leadership, and preparation of soldiers. This significant transition occurred during an inactivation ceremony where flags from TRADOC’s subordinate units were displayed, and the command’s colors were carefully cased in a ceremonial gesture that signifies the end of a military unit.
The ceremony was led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, alongside Gen. Gary Brito, the commanding general of TRADOC, and Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris, who participated in the flag retirement. During his remarks, Gen. George highlighted the profound influence TRADOC has had on soldiers, stating, “Every Soldier in our formation has passed through TRADOC and has been trained, developed and impacted by people in this command.” He emphasized that the values and lessons learned at TRADOC would be carried forward by soldiers throughout their careers.
Founded in 1973 in response to changes in the military structure post-Vietnam War, TRADOC has been instrumental in shaping the U.S. Army through various critical periods, including the Cold War, Operation Desert Storm, counterinsurgency missions, and the Global War on Terror. It has also played a pivotal role in implementing new technologies such as cyber operations, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
The functions of TRADOC will now be integrated into the newly established Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), which merges TRADOC with the Army Futures Command. This merger was announced by the Pentagon in May as part of an initiative to streamline leadership by reducing the number of generals and eliminating redundant roles. T2COM is set to formally commence operations in October at its new headquarters in Austin, Texas, with Lt. Gen. David Hodne at the helm. On the same day, the Army Futures Command will officially inactivate at the University of Texas at Austin.
Gen. Brito remarked on the significance of the merger, stating, “Our Army is merging two already great formations to create one, another great formation that will be streamlined and can meet and adapt to the challenges in the operational environment, and yet anticipate those of the future.” This evolution aims to enhance the Army’s ability to train and prepare for upcoming challenges in a rapidly changing world.
