United States Army Western Hemisphere Command

On 5 December 2025, the USAWHC was activated and replaced United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM).^[7] Effective the same date, the United States Army North (ARNORTH) and United States Army South (ARSOUTH) were assigned to USAWHC, including their mission and resources.^[8] The establishment of USAWHC is part of a larger reorganization effort by the Army to modernize its command structure^[9] and reduce its number of generals.^[10] Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on January 14, 2025 at his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, “We won World War II with seven four-star generals, Today we have 44.…There is an inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory on the battlefield. We do not need more bureaucracy at the top. We need more warfighters empowered at the bottom."^[11] The secretary also published his plan for the realignment called the Unified Command Plan. Prior to the establishment of USAWHC, an "AMERICOM" proposed by President Donald Trump would merge U.S. Northern Command with U.S. Southern Command.^[12]

When ARNORTH and ARSOUTH conclude their Army Service Component Command service to NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM respectively, USAWHC will become the Army Component of both NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM.^[8] The USAWHC reports directly to Headquarters, Department of the Army.^[8] The restructuring through the creation of the USAWHC and the deactivation or merger of the three former commands will cause the relocation or transfer of hundreds of civilian positions, mainly from Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas.^[3]

In addition to restructuring, the creation of the USAWHC is a major change in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said, "After years of neglect, the United States will restore U.S. military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. We will use it to protect our homeland and access to key terrain throughout the region. We will also deny adversaries' ability to position forces or other threatening capabilities in our hemisphere."^[3]

USAWHC will reach its initial operating capability in February 2026, and the command is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2026.^[6] According to a memo from Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, FORSCOM, ARNORTH and ARSOUTH will inactivate on 15 October 2026.^[13]

The following units were transferred under command of USAWHC (effective 5 December 2025): the First Army, the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 20th CBRNE Command, and the Air Traffic Services Command.^[8] The III Armored Corps has been assigned to U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), and I Corps has been assigned to United States Army Pacific (USARPAC).^[8][13] On 13 January 2026, it was announced that the responsibilities of the recently deactivated Security Force Assistance Command will be transferred to USAWHC, which will retain two of its former brigades – the 1st SFAB at Fort Benning, Georgia (oriented to the Southern Command area), and the 5th SFAB at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington (oriented to the Indo-Pacific Command area).^[14]

The command will also take charge of the PANAMAX and Vigilant Shield exercises.^[4] PANAMAX is a U.S.-led multinational exercise, involving troops from Central and South American nations. The other, Vigilant Shield, is a U.S.-based exercise that has troops train for and simulate defense of attacks on the United States.^[4]

The shoulder sleeve insignia of USAWHC was approved by the Army's Institute of Heraldry.^[16] It consists of a navy blue shield, containing a globe that displays the Western Hemisphere, surmounted by the head of a bald eagle. The two stars, doubled left and right, represent the command's four-star status. The red, white and blue colors allude to the national colors of the United States.^[17] The SSI of USAWHC was quickly added to the command's first flag, which was created in the two weeks prior to the December 5 activation ceremony by the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.^[18]

The first commander of USAWHC is Gen. Joseph A. Ryan. The command sergeant major of USAWHC is CSM Nema Mobar.^[19]