Pentagon Announces Units for Next Afghanistan Rotation

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Defense announced today major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next rotation operating in Afghanistan. This announcement involves a combat brigade and division headquarters element totaling approximately 4,700 service members. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the late spring of 2009.

This rotation continues the U.S. commitment to maintain the level of forces necessary to provide sufficient military capability for the NATO-International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to further improve security and stability operations.

Specific units receiving deployment orders include:

• 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters, Ft. Bragg, N.C.

• 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, Colo.

In consultation with Afghan officials and NATO, commanders continue to assess the situation to ensure sufficient force levels to best support the Government of Afghanistan, perform counter-terrorism operations, assist with reconstruction, and train and equip the Afghan national security forces. Afghan security forces continue to develop capability and assume responsibility for security, and this U.S. force rotation may be tailored based upon changes in the security situation.

DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as units are identified and alerted. For information on the units announced today or other units involved in this rotation.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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