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Fort Knox Fighting Brigade To Be Phased Out By Year's End

Army officials have moved up the timetable for the departure of Fort Knox's only fighting brigade.

Maj. Gen. Jeff Smith tells the News-Enterprise the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division will fully deactivate by the end of the year.

Last summer, the Army announced that 12 brigade combat teams, including Knox's, would be deactivated by 2017 as part of a force reduction of about 80,000. Fort Knox's brigade has more than 3,000 members.

Smith said many soldiers in the unit have already received new assignments and soon will depart.

The general says the "greater part" of 2,000 soldiers and their families tied to the unit will leave in the next six to eight months. Soldiers nearing retirement or who are exiting the Army will remain at Knox.

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