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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 11 June 2018

A first for the Army: Scouting big cities for new command HQ

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT propose changes to war-
Associated Press fighting strategies.
The U.S. Army is scouting "We can't try to win the
large cities to find a home next war using the last war's
for a new command equipment and tactics,"
headquarters so it will Seiber said.
be close to academia The Army has been
and industry, a first for the discussing ways to
service. modernize for several
The Army typically likes years. It proposed a study
to put its facilities away in October to establish a
from population centers new command.
because there is space Adding a fourth major
to train in rural areas and command is the biggest
operations won't disrupt change to the Army's
the public. structure in decades.
The new command will WHERE COULD IT GO?
focus on what the Army of Boston, Raleigh and Austin
the future should look like. are among the finalists
The Army wants to be near selected from the top
experts in technology and 15. The Army hasn't said
innovation who can help In this Sept. 12, 2011 file photo, generals salute during an installation ceremony at the U.S Army publicly how many finalists
figure that out. Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., one the Army's three major command headquarters. there are. The process is
Fifteen cities were in Associated Press designed to give each city
the same amount of time
contention: Atlanta; Austin, spokesman for the Army to prepare for a visit.
Texas; Boston; Chicago; Futures Command Task The Army is looking for a
Dallas; Denver; Houston; Force. "That means we location that's close to the
Los Angeles; Minneapolis; need to get to where these best talent in academia
New York; Philadelphia; folks are." and industry. It's also
Raleigh, North Carolina; Some questions and considering where people
San Diego; San Francisco; answers about the Army's want to live and how
and Seattle. quest: much money is spent in
Army officials asked mayors WHAT WILL THE NEW each city on research
for input, and then chose HEADQUARTERS DO? and development, among
finalists. They haven't The wars in Iraq and other factors.
announced which cities Afghanistan have been so WHY WOULD A CITY WANT
made the cut but are demanding, Army officials IT?
now visiting the finalists to say they haven't planned Jobs, economic activity
recommend a site to the enough for how they will and a bond with the Army.
Army secretary. They've fight wars years from now. Some of the staff will be
been to Boston, Raleigh Army Secretary Mark Esper hired locally. Employees will
and Austin so far. has said, "The present has live near the headquarters
The site for the Futures consumed the future." and presumably spend
Command headquarters The Futures Command money in the area.
is expected to be will have a staff of roughly The Army will lease a large
announced by the end of 500 people, led by a office space and will likely
June. four-star general. It will spend millions on the
"We're looking at the best try to figure out what the project. The exact figure
of what America has to emerging threats are, what will be determined by costs
offer when it comes to equipment will be needed in the city that is selected.
technology and industry and how to use it. It will The Army is also factoring
and education," said help the Army get the right in the cost of security in a
Army Col. Patrick Seiber, equipment quickly and downtown area.q