European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                From staff and wire reports. The army announced thursday that two of its four full combat divisions in Europe will be withdrawn next year As part of a major reduction of . Forces abroad. The two divisions remaining in Europe will be designated the 3rd inf div and the 1st army div according to a release from . Army Europe officials. When completed by 1995, the removal of the 8th inf div and the 3rd army div plus other associated elements will mean a reduction of about 71,000 . Soldiers from Germany said maj. Pete Keating an army spokesman in Washington. The army also announced that 18 units in Europe will draw Down during the first four months of 1992, and four units will move to the United states As part of the recently announced enhanced Continental United states contingency capability a rapid deployment Force. Total . Military reductions in Europe Are expected to approach 150,000 Over the next several years but the services have not fully designated which or their combat and support units will be withdrawn. There were 183,000 soldiers in Germany when the first withdrawal announcement was made in september 1990. By the end of fiscal 1992, the army plans to have 152,000 soldiers in Germany an army spokesman in Europe said. The goal is to reduce the number of soldiers to 100,000 by 1995. The army said the first withdrawals related to thursday s announcement will mean that Vii corps one of two army corps in Europe will be disbanded leaving v corps at Frankfurt As the Central fighting unit. Vii corps which has its Headquarters in Stuttgart spearheaded the Allied ground attack against Iraq in february. V corps 3rd army div which is nicknamed the spearhead and has its Headquarters in Frankfurt was key to the Vii corps assault on the iraqi Republican guard during the persian Gulf War. Officials said the colors will be returned to the United states and the division resurrected at a later Date. The two divisions to remain in Europe As part of v corps Are the 1st army div nicknamed old Ironsides and the 3rd inf div the army said. The 3rd inf div Headquarters will remain at Wurzburg Germany and the 1st army div designation and colors will move from Ansbach to bad Kreuz Nach the statement said. Dates for inactivating Vii corps and the 8th inf div have not yet been determined. The 3rd army div colors will return to the United states and be reactivated but no Date or location has been announced. An army official at the Pentagon said that the 5th inf div me already scheduled to move from fort Polk la., to fort Hood Texas is the likeliest candidate to be predesignated the 3rd army div. The moves Are part of a broader army plan to reduce its presence abroad increase its .-based capability to respond to regional contingencies such As the persian Gulf crisis and to Cut its size by about 20 percent Over the next four years. With the announcements draw Downs to Date for the . Army in Europe total 146 units and 57,300 positions since the first withdrawal announcement was made on sept. 25,1990, a Usa eur statement said. Staff writers Gary Pomeroy and Chuck a Latch contributed to this report . Army of future being shaped to fight two regional half wars by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington rather than standing ready to fight one and a half wars a with the a a one being a major conflict in Europe against the soviet Union a the army of the future will be tailored to handle what might be called two regional half wars according to service officials. With the lessening of the soviet threat Active army strength will fall from its Peak of 780,000 soldiers to about 535,000 Overall while Reserve forces will drop from roughly the same level to about 550,000 troops by 1995. With a much smaller Force the army will have to be far More Mobile in order to respond rapidly to such regional crises As last years iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The plan now taking shape Wilt Call for the army to be Able to take on two regional wars at once a one in the Pacific Region and one in the european Middle Eastern Region for example. A before one and a half wars was the official position a one army official said. A now we re planning on a a half and a half occurring at the same time even though they sort of make More than a whole because of the need to go in two directions at  while major regional conflicts will be the focus of future War planning the army must still maintain its capability to see army on Page 2 Swap Day will create 3rd inf Meg division by Vince Crawley and John Millar staff writers today might be remembered As the great Flag and Patch Swap Day for members of the 1st army 3rd inf and 8th inf divisions. The 1st and the 3rd will officially merge into a Meg unit some 30,000 soldiers Strong under the 3rd inf div Flag a the largest division in the army. The 3rd inf div will have eight brigades now while a division generally has four. The 8th will take the 1st army div name Flag and patches. Armoured division soldiers Are Likely to see changes in tactics and Maneu vers As they join the infantry division. Armoured divisions As a Rule have More tank Crew members than foot soldiers. Infantry divisions rely on a More balanced combination of Armor meaning tanks and foot soldiers in combat. The 1st army div has been gradually inactivating since Early summer and Only a few Headquarters units were scheduled to remain Active after the end of the year. So the latest news of inactivation came As Rescue at sea a an unidentified Crew member of an Oil exploration Barge Waves for help after the vessel capsized and partially Sank thursday in a typhoon off Southern China. The Man was airlifted to safety aboard a helicopter but at least eight people died despite a see Swap on Page 2 dramatic air and sea Rescue operation. See Story on Page 9,