Fort Eustis holds inactivation ceremony for TRADOC

The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command has retired its colors after 52 years of service.

TRADOC, which officially inactivates Oct. 1, held a ceremony at Fort Eustis on Friday to mark the end of the command.

Army Gen. Randy A. George addressed a crowd that included service members, former TRADOC leaders, Gold Star families, representatives from congressional offices and Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones.

“The character of war continues to evolve,” George said. “(TRADOC) was born out of a need for change in 1973. Today, we’re adjusting again to stay ahead.”

TRADOC was established after the Vietnam War, during a period of Cold War tensions, when the Army was in flux. The headquarters, originally established at Fort Monroe, moved to Fort Eustis in 2011 after 38 years, following the Hampton post’s deactivation.

Under the Army Transformation Initiative, an effort to restructure and streamline operations, TRADOC will merge with the Army Futures Command, headquartered in Austin, Texas. Together, they will become the Army Transformation and Training Command in Texas.

Military members bow their heads during the invocation during an inactivation ceremony for TRADOC, the United State Army Training and Doctrine Command, at Fort Eustis in Newport News on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army, smiles with General Gary Brito, the final Commanding General of TRADOC, during an inactivation ceremony for TRADOC, the United State Army Training and Doctrine Command, at Fort Eustis in Newport News on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

A cannon is fired during an inactivation ceremony for TRADOC, United State Army Training and Doctrine Command, at Fort Eustis in Newport News on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

An Army Ranger dons the TRADOC emblem on his uniform during an inactivation ceremony for TRADOC, United State Army Training and Doctrine Command, at Fort Eustis in Newport News on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

1 of 4

Expand

Lt. Gen. David M. Hodne was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the new command.

Throughout its history, TRADOC’s mission has been to train and prepare soldiers for their roles in the Army. It has been responsible for developing military strategy, selecting equipment and providing guidance on how the Army trains and fights.

TRADOC has grown to 27 locations and trained more than 750,000 soldiers per year, according to the Army.

TRADOC headquarters has about 800 military and civilian employees. Those positions will continue until decisions are made over the next year about who will be reassigned or relocated.

This spring, word spread that the Reserve helicopter unit at Fort Eustis will cease operations by September 2026, a move also associated with the Army’s restructuring initiative.

Gen. Gary M. Brito, the 18th and final commander of TRADOC, remarked to Friday’s attendees with gratitude on what he called the closure of a “great chapter in history.”

“This may not be the type of ceremony we often see,” Brito said. “But it is happening because of important change and necessary change in our army.”

Addressing his command, he spoke of the future.

“You will be an integral part of the next chapter yet to be written.”

Emma Rose Brown, 757-805-2256, emma.brown@virginiamedia.com

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/26/tradoc-inactivation-ceremony/