We now have more information about plans to reduce the size of the Army.

The Associated Press is reporting that U.S. officials say the Army plans to slash the number of combat brigades from 45 to as low as 32, and broadly restructure its fighting force to save money and cut the size of the service by about 80,000 soldiers.
   
Officials say the sweeping changes will likely increase the size of each combat brigade - generally by adding another battalion.

Doing that would ensure the brigades have the capabilities they need to go to war.

A brigade is usually about 3,500 soldiers and a battalion is between 600 and 800 soldiers.
   
The cuts come as the Pentagon finalizes its 2013 fiscal year budget, which must reflect about $260 billion in savings over five years.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not yet been made public.

There's no word on what effect, if any, the cuts will have on Fort Drum.

North country Congressman Bill Owens (D. - 23rd District) says troop reduction across the Army might actually be good news for Fort Drum because the 10th Mountain Division is agile, flexible, ready to deploy quickly, innovative and technologically advanced - qualities Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said are desirable.

"It is well trained, has had many, many deployments and is a very flexible fighting unit. So when you look at those factors, you compare that to what Secretary Panetta is talking about, I think we can have great confidence that this is not going to have a material adverse effect on Fort Drum," said Owens.

Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey will brief the media at 2 p.m. Thursday on major budget decisions stemming from the defense strategic guidance.

See our earlier report