• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

US Forces Order of Battle - 30 December

This is a "best available" order-of-battle of forces deployed in CENTCOM's part of Southwest Asia, as well as EUCOM forces in Turkey participating in Operation Northern Watch. Even prior to September 11, 2001, the amount of publicly available information concerning aircraft types and specific units has diminished to the point that it is no longer possible to provide a high fidelity profile of current deployments. There are evidently significant gaps in unit identifications, as well as non-trivial uncertainties as to numbers of specific types of aircraft. The presence of significant numbers of civilian contractor personnel at various facilities in the region further complicates accounting for total personnel numbers.

Excluding forces deployed in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, there are probably about 52,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 400 aircraft of all types. The number of troops deployed in the area fluctuates on a daily basis, and has averaged between 20,000 and 25,000 in recent years, with typically about 200 aircraft in the region. Forces in the region include a mix of special operations forces deployed in support of US Central Command operations. To enhance force protection throughout the region, additional military security personnel are also deployed.

Ground forces include a variety of units that are normally deployed in the region, which total about 3,700 troops. Forces in the region include a Patriot missile task force with two batteries deployed in Saudi Arabia and two in Kuwait. The Army Intrinsic Action / Desert Spring training exercises routinely deploy 1,500 to 5,000 troops for rotations of several months. As of early-December 2002 a brigade rotation was virtually complete. Nearly all of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division had returned to the United States, though comments made by 3rd Division officials to the press have made it clear that the 3rd BDE could redeploy to the region if so ordered. It is believed that the total Army presence in the region is nearly 10,000 soldiers.

The US Air Force's Expeditionary Air and Space Force (EAF) concept and organization sets a guideline for Air Force deployments to operational locations. The EAF is comprised of 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEF) each with lead combat and support wings including on-call wings that could be deployed if required. Deployments for active duty units lasts roughly 90-days while Reserve and Guard units deploy typically for 30 - 60 days. Generally one AEF is assigned to Operation Southern Watch and one is assigned to Northern Watch. AEF 7 and AEF 8 units deployed beginning in late November and will remain until the end of February 2003.

The EUCOM Area of Responsibility includes approximately 1,700 Air Force personnel at Incrilik AB Turkey, flying Operation Northern Watch patrols (Though there are roughly 4,000 people at Incirlik in general). Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom, approximately 6,200 Air Force personnel were normally stationed in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. As many as 17,500 Air Force personnel may be currently stationed in the CENTCOM and EUCOM areas responsible for operations against Iraq, operating a total of about 280 aircraft of all types.

Naval units include a headquarters and shore-based units comprised of about 1,200 people at Manama in Bahrain. Nearly a thousand civilian mariners are associated with Military Sealift Command ships at Diego Garcia. During the 1990s overall Naval force personnel levels in the CENTCOM AOR typically varied between 8,000 and 15,000. Each Carrier Battlegroup, with its associated Carrier Air Wing, has approximately 11,000 sailors embarked. Each Amphibious Group has about 1,700 sailors, 1,500 Marines, and 700 Marine aviators embarked. As of mid-to-late December 2002 there was one carrier battle group in the area, and one amphibious group, for a total of around 14,000 naval personnel. These units included about 128 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. A total of about 446 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which is roughly twice the average number typically deployed in recent years. Based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 150 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

Currently, there are about 370 combatant and direct support aircraft in the Iraq [CENTCOM and EUCOM] Area of Responsibility, which total includes air to air, air to ground, dual role, direct support, and attack helicopters.

Note: While this listing is dated, one should keep in mind that the page is often edited numerous times during a particular edition, sometimes daily. One should visit the page often to get the most up-to-date listing of affairs.

Recent Developments

The Orlando Sentinel reported on December 21, 2002 that 50 individuals of the 143rd Transportation Command were activated and given orders to deploy to Kuwait. The 143d TRANSCOM, Army Reserve, mobilizes and deploys to establish the theater level transportation systems. It establishes aerial and sea ports of debarkation and inland motor and rail operations. 143rd TRANSCOM is the EAC Transportation operator. All rail, coastal & inland waterway systems, and highway operations will be operated by subordinate units of this Command. As the unit is WARTRACED to both Major Theater Wars its deployment is a critical prerequisite for any war with Iraq. The story goes on to indicate that the rest of the 200-plus unit will deploy as war becomes more likely.

1,000 soldiers from the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade have deployed to Israel recently. This deployment is part of Operation Shining Presence a Joint Exercise involving United States and Israeli forces. This is not, however, a routine deployment as US forces are scheduled to remain in the area following the conclusion of the exercise.

Two infantry battalions from the 53rd Infantry Brigade (Florida National Guard) have been activated and will be sent to Fort Stewart for training. It is unclear whether or not these units, the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment will be sent to the Middle East, Afghanistan or Homeland Security but it is an aligned unit of the 24th Infantry Division, which is associated with the XVIII Airborne Corps.

The Abraham Lincoln Battle Group arrived in Fremantle, Australia on December 22, 2002. She is expected to remain in Fremantle until December 26. at which point she will continue to transit back to her home port of Everett.

The George Washington and most of her Battle Group returned to Norfolk on December 20, 2002. This marked the end of her Med Deployment, but Navy officials have made it clear that she will remain on call for a short period of time so if needed, she could redeploy back to the Persian Gulf region. Relatedly, an Associated Press story dated December 27, 2002 also indicated that the USS George Washington had been given orders to be ready to deploy within 96 hours after a certain date that has not be disclosed.

The Harry S Truman Battle Group made a port call at Marseille, France on December 23 and is expected to remain there until shortly after Dec 25.

The Associated Press reported on December 27, 2002 that the USNS Comfort had recieved orders to depart for Diego Garcia as early as December 30, 2002. One of the obvious prerequisites for a war with Iraq has been the the need to have a hospital ship nearby to receive casualties.

The USNS Pilalaau (TAKR 304) was loading equipment in Beaumont, Texas on 19 December 2002, probably associated with the 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). The USNS Yano (TAKR 297) was loading 3rd Infantry Division equipment on or about December 20 at Charleston, SC. The Pililaau left Beaumont, Texas, on 23 December 2002 loaded with combat support equipment, including trucks and Humvees, that filled almost 200,000 square feet of cargo space. The Yano sailed from Charleston, SC, at noon on 24 December 2002, carrying a Black Hawk helicopter and three OH-58 combat helicopters in its holds. Though the fastest route to their destinations would take the ships through the Suez Canal, the Yano and the Pililaau were under orders to take a slower route around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The voyage to the Gulf region was expected to take 21 to 25 days.

The 457th Fighter Squadron was identified as being located at Prince Sultan Air Base in support of Southern Watch. It is unclear when the unit arrived in the area as it does not appear to be part of AEF 7.