Shattering hopes that the U.S. Force levels deployed to Iraq would be reduced later this year, the Department of Defense has instead announced plans to increase force levels during the next rotation.
25,000 additional troops have been scheduled to deploy to Iraq and 3,500 members who have completed their one year tour have been informed that their tours have been extended for up to 120 days, according to a Department of Defense press release. The added deployment involves four Army brigades and two Marine Regimental Combat Teams.
This will increase the number of brigades in Iraq from 15 to 16, and the number of troops from approximately 127,000 to about 132,000. According to Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, the number of U.S. military personnel deployed to Iraq is expected to reach between 130,000 and 135,000.
“The facts are that you have a security challenge that has emerged in Baghdad that Gen. [George]Casey along with Iraqi government has said that we need to address, and what you’re seeing is a flexible and adaptable force based on those changing, dynamic conditions that are now being addressed by the application of additional Iraqi and U.S. forces,” Whitman said to reporters.
According to DoD, "Force levels in Iraq continue to be conditions-based and will be determined in consultation with the Iraqi government. Deployment decisions are made at the recommendation of military commanders in Iraq. Based on ongoing assessments of the conditions on the ground, changes may be made that could affect units now being identified and advised to prepare to deploy – as has occurred in the past."
The Secretary of Defense approved a request by the Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) to extend the deployment of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based out of Alaska, currently deployed to Iraq, for up to 120 additional days.
The units added to the next rotation include:
- 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas
- 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas
- Regimental Combat Team 2, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Regimental Combat Team 6, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Additionally, the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia has been placed in a prepare-to-deploy status for possible deployment later this year.
