• 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 - 28 February

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 had diminished to the point that it was 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 153,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 750 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. Virtually all of 3rd Infantry Division has been deployed to Kuwait, though it is possible that some battalions are still in the process of deploying. It is believed that the total Army presence in the region is nearly 42,000 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 20,000 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. It should be noted that tracking personnel numbers for the Air Force is extremely difficult as the actual number of pilots is small compared to support elements. These numbers could be drastically incorrect.

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 Battle Group, 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 25 February 2003 there were five carrier battle groups in the area, two amphibious task forces, and two amphibious groups, for a total of around 91,000 naval personnel. These units included about 504 helicopters and aircraft. A total of about 2,142 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which is roughly three times the average number typically deployed in recent years. Based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 1,000 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

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 the situation.

Recent Developments

Sealift

• The USNS Dahl is to transit through the Suez Canal on February 28. The Dahl is carrying equipment belonging to the 101st Airborne Division. She departed Jacksonville on February 14.
• The USNS Shughart transited through the Suez Canal on February 26 according to the Agence France Presse. The ship departed North Carolina on or about February 5.
• The USNS Sirius and the Altair transited the Suez Canal on February 25 according to the Associated Press on the same day. The AP claims that the ships were carrying Army weaponry including tanks. However, to date there has not been any indication that these ships have such equipment on board, nor is there any information as to where they may have loaded the equipment.
• The USNS Capella enterred the port of Iskenderun on February 25. It is believed that the ship is loaded with trucks, communications equipment and supplies from Europe, possibly belonging to the 1st Infantry Division. This is the third cargo vessel to make port in Turkey.

Airlift

• There were eight civilian aircraft at Fort Campbell on February 28 with additional aircraft en route. According to The Courier-Journal on February 28, nearly 5,000 soldiers from the 101st had been deployed during the week. The article also reported that roughly eight to twelve flights a day have departed Fort Campbell.
• As of 8 AM (eastern) on February 27, 2003 there were roughly 10 civilian aircraft at Fort Campbell preparing to transport the first elements of the 101st Airborne Division from the United States to Kuwait.

Army

• Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division have begun to deploy to the Persian Gulf region. the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment departed on February 25 according to the Fort Riley website.
• If reports concerning the number of aircraft at Fort Campbell are correct, by February 28, 2003 roughly 12,000 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division have deployed to the Persian Gulf region.
• Sources indicate that 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division, has received orders to deploy to the Southwest Asia AOR in support of a forthcoming war on Iraq.
• Roughly 2,000 US soldiers are currently located in Jordan manning Patriot missile batteries and providing logistical and rescue support. It is not clear which units are in the country.
• On February 27, 2003 the Wichita Eagle reported that 900 additional soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division had received orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf region as well as 500 soldiers from the 937th Engineer Group.
• On February 20, 2003 MSNBC.com reported that elements of the Southern European Task Force had received orders to deploy to the CENTCOM AOR. Various other news stories the Associated Press indicate that equipment has begun to depart the SETAF's base at Caserma Ederle by rail. While one can easily assume that the unit being deployed is the 173rd Airborne Brigade the deployment could not include the whole brigade as part of it is currently in Kosovo. Stars & Stripes confirmed on February 25 that the 173rd Airborne Brigade had received an order to deploy though it is unclear where it is headed.
• The 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment has been identified as being located in Kuwait according to the Fayetteville Observer on February 24.
• A Patriot unit, the 2nd Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery has received orders to deploy to Southwest Asia. Roughly 12 soldiers are involved, it is unclear when they will leave the United States but the Albuquerque Journal reported that the entire unit would eventually be deployed.
• A UH-60 from the 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment crashed in Kuwait on February 25, 2003. Four soldiers were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.
• 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment recently arrived at Camp Udairi, Kuwait according to the Stars & Stripes on February 24, 2003. The 7th Battalion, 159th Aviation is also in Kuwait. Both units are believed to be part of Task Force 11th Aviation.
• 300 soldiers from Fort Bliss departed on or about February 22 according to the Associated Press on February 24.
• Soldiers from the 68th Engineer Company received deployment orders on February 23 according to the AP on February 24.
• The 36th Medical Evacuation Battalion also received orders to deploy.
• A report in the Associated Press on February 25 indicates that the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment may not be fully deployed until late March.
• 50 additional soldiers from the 541st Maintenance Battalion, and the 937th Engineer Group recieved orders to deploy to the CENTCOM AOR on February 20.
• The 307th Engineer Battalion was identified as being in Kuwait with the rest of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division according to the Raleigh News and Observer on February 23.
• The 407th Forward Support Battalion has been identified as having deployed with the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne. The unit is currently in Kuwait, according to the Associated Press on February 20, 2003.

Navy

• A report from a the San Diego Union Tribune indicates that the USS Nimitz and its Battle Group will be deploying on Monday, March 3, possibly to the Persian Gulf. However other sources and methods indicate that the actual departure date would be March 1.
• Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 is currently in the CENTCOM AOR.
• The USS George Washington enterred the Yard on February 25, 2003 essentially removing any chance that she could be involved in an upcoming war with Iraq. She has been removed from the alert listing.
• Inshore Boat Unit 14 is currently operating in the CENTCOM AOR and is part of Naval Coastal Warfare Task Group 1.
• Amphibious Task Force - West is in the Persian Gulf. It began offloading Marines off the coast of Kuwait on February 24.
• Two ships transited the Suez Canal on February 23 according to the Agence France Presse on Feb 23. They were the USS Carr, part of the Roosevelt CVBG, and the USS Oscar Austin which is part of the Truman CVBG. It is thought that these vessels will take part in Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Persian Gulf and the North Arabian Sea.
• The USS Kitty Hawk and elements of her Battle Group transited the Strait of Malacca on or about February 16. She arrived in the Gulf of Oman on February 24 and is expected to transit the Straits of Hormuz by February 28. A Stars and Stripes story on February 21 indicates that the Vincennes is not present with the Kitty Hawk but that rather the Cowpens is with the Battle Group and that the Curtis Wilbur is still in Japan.
• The USS Theodore Roosevelt and her Battle Group was in the Mediterranean Sea on or about February 12, 2003.

Marine Corps

• Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines are currently in Kuwait.
• The 1st Marine Regiment began to arrive in Kuwait on February 24.
• 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment has been identified at Camp Coyote, Kuwait according to the North County Times on February 23, 2003.
• 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Force Services Support Group is currently at Camp Coyote, Kuwait according to a photo release from the United States Navy.
• The 8th Engineer Support Battalion is in Kuwait according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune on February 22.
• A story in the Chicago Tribune on February 23 indicates that the "5th Regimental Combat Team" is comprised of roughly 6,000 Marines.
• Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade are apparently being called "Task Force Tarawa" according to the Associated Press in the Charlotte Observer on February 21.
• The 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment is currently in Kuwait at Tactical Area Coyote according to the San Francisco Chronicle on February 23, 2003.
• Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment have received orders to deploy according to the San Diego Union Tribune on February 21, 2003.

Air Force

• Elements of the 509th Bomb Wing have received orders to deploy to a forward location in preperation for a war against Iraq, according to Reuters on February 27. It is not clear when the deployment will take place or how many aircraft will be involved but previous reports indicate that roughly 12-16 aircraft are to be made available and that multiple aircraft could be located at Diego Garcia, more than the two shelters that are available.
• Two B-52s from the 2nd Bomb Wing departed Barksdale Air Force Base on February 27 headed for parts unknown. Sources indicate that the bulk of the rest of the Wing should depart the United States in the days ahead.
• A story in The State on February 27 indicates that some 400 airmen from the 169th Fighter Wing will be departing South Carolina on February 28 headed for the Persian Gulf reigon.
• The 129th Rescue Squadron is currently located at Incirlik Air Base according to the San Jose Mercury News on February 24.
• According to the Fayetteville Observer on February 26, the 23rd Fighter Group has been ordered to deploy to Southwest Asia. The call-up effects both squadrons.
• Elements of the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron are believed to be located at Ali Al Salem Air Base with the 320th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron/Forward according to an Air Force news story.
• Additional aircraft and airmen from the 20th Fighter Wing have been ordered to the CENTCOM area.

Coast Guard

• The USCGC Dallas has apparently received orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf region according to the Charleston (SC) Post and Courier on February 27, 2003. The Dallas will join the USCGC Boutwell that has been in the Gulf for some weeks. The Dallas received her orders on February 8 and began to head for the regin. She apparently made a port visit in Bermuda on February 19.

Canada

• HMCS Winnipeg's deployment has been extended by 2 months according to the Ottawa Citizen on February 23.
• HMCS Iroquois departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on Monday February 24. She is headed for the Persian Gulf. However, following a helicopter accident she returned to Halifax and indications are that her deployment has pushed back, if not cancelled.

Gulf States

• 500 soldiers from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Kuwait on February 23 according to Agence France Presse on February 23.

Russia

• The Russian government has cancelled the naval deployment to the Indian Ocean according to the BBC on February 27.

United Kingdom

• HMS Richmond is to transit the Suez Canal on February 28, 2003.
• The Press Association reported on February 13 that the United Kingdom now has roughly 42,000 military servicemen and women deployed in the Middle East. It is not clear if all of these units are in the region or if this is the number that will be present in the coming weeks.
• 1,000 members of the 16 Air Assault Brigade are believed to be located in Kuwait at this time according to the Agence France Presse on February 19, 2003.
• 100 soldiers from 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps were scheduled to depart