Pennsylvania Army National Guard

The United States Army is converting the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team into a Mobile Brigade Combat Team, with the transition scheduled to take effect by March 31, 2026, according to an announcement from Joint Force Headquarters – Pennsylvania National Guard. The change will replace the brigade’s Stryker armored vehicle structure with a lighter formation centered on the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). The restructuring is part of a broader Army transformation initiative directed in May 2025 by the secretaries of Defense and the Army. The effort aims to adjust the force structure of the Army’s active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve components in response to evolving operational requirements and the changing character of modern conflict. Under the new structure, the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team will transition from a wheeled armored brigade to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team (MBCT). The reorganization will include the removal of Stryker armored vehicles and the introduction of lighter mobility platforms intended to move infantry units quickly across difficult terrain. According to the Pennsylvania National Guard, the Infantry Squad Vehicle will become the central mobility platform for the new brigade structure. The ISV is a lightweight, unarmored troop carrier designed to transport a nine-soldier infantry squad. The vehicle emphasizes speed and mobility rather than armored protection, allowing infantry units to move rapidly during operations. STRYKER combat vehicle. (Photo by Kevin C Mcdevitt) The structural transition will also involve multiple changes across the brigade’s subordinate units. The 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment will be inactivated as part of the restructuring, while a multi-function reconnaissance company will be formed using elements of existing units. The 103rd Brigade Engineer Battalion will also be inactivated. In its place, the new brigade structure will establish several specialized units formed from existing components, including a combat engineer company-infantry, a signal company, and a military intelligence company. Infantry formations within the brigade will also undergo reorganization. The 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment; and 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment will transition to operate under the Mobile Brigade Combat Team headquarters structure. Each infantry battalion will receive an additional multi-purpose company as part of the reorganization. Support elements are also being modified to align with the new operational structure. The 328th Brigade Support Battalion will convert to a light support battalion. Although the unit will remain stationed in Pennsylvania, it will be organized under the 28th Division Sustainment Brigade of the Ohio Army National Guard. The brigade’s artillery component will also change structure. The 1st Battalion, 108th Field Artillery Regiment will be reorganized under the 28th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade (DIVARTY) as part of the broader transition. The 56th Brigade’s conversion reflects a shift toward lighter, more mobile ground forces that can operate across a wider range of environments. Mobile Brigade Combat Teams are designed to deploy quickly and move infantry units over varied terrain while maintaining the ability to coordinate reconnaissance, engineering, communications, and support functions. The Infantry Squad Vehicle plays a central role in this concept. Unlike armored vehicles such as the Stryker, the ISV focuses on rapid transportation of infantry squads rather than direct combat protection. The platform is designed to carry soldiers and their equipment over rugged terrain and can be transported by military aircraft or helicopters. Lighter vehicles such as the ISV allow infantry units to maneuver quickly during expeditionary or dispersed operations. The platform’s reduced weight and simplified design allow it to operate in environments where heavier armored vehicles may be restricted by terrain or logistical constraints. The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team was originally selected in 2004 to become a Stryker formation, becoming the first Stryker brigade within the reserve component of the U.S. Army. The current restructuring therefore represents a major change in the brigade’s equipment and operational role after more than two decades as an armored wheeled brigade. Officials indicated that guidance for “Tranche 2” of the transformation is not expected until spring 2026 or later. Current planning anticipates that the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team could convert to a Mobile Brigade Combat Team sometime between 2028 and 2032, although no final decision has been announced. Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy, addressed the changes in a statement outlining the National Guard’s approach to managing the transition. He said the Pennsylvania National Guard leadership is working to ensure that soldiers affected by the restructuring are able to continue their service while minimizing disruption to their careers. “I have directed my staff to develop comprehensive options that enable Soldiers’ continued service while minimizing negative impacts on careers and that provide support across the commonwealth,” Pippy said. He added that the state’s National Guard leadership will also work with national authorities to secure additional force structure opportunities for Pennsylvania units. “We will also engage at the national level in pursuit of force structure, such as additional infantry and sustainment battalions, that will allow us to retain our highly trained and talented Soldiers,” Pippy said.

Pennsylvania Army National Guard

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Pennsylvania Army National Guard

U.S. Army converts 56th Stryker brigade to Mobile brigade

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