"citing PLA sources, reported that, effective on August 1, 2017, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Red Army, the PLA would reform its basic unit structure. This will mainly affect the Army by completing the conversion of all remaining divisions to brigades with subordinate battalions and abolishing all regiments. The Bowen report also stated that the senior colonel rank would be replaced with a new one-star brigadier general, and all other general ranks would receive an additional star."