UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military


US Forces Order of Battle - 26 December 2004

This is a "best available" listing of US forces deployed to the Central Command AOR for Southwest Asia and for US forces deployed to European Command's locations in Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. It does not include forces deployed exclusively for operations in Central Asia though it may at times list units that are involved in both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This listing also does not account for US or Coalition forces involved in operations in the Horn of Africa.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of US forces present in the area is particularly difficult as the number of units rotating in and out of Southwest Asia are substantial. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly more difficult as the military seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies and the media as to the extent of American operations. The significant number of troops that have been mobilized or activated in the United States for unspecified duties, whether they be in support of Iraq Freedom or in support of homeland security also complicates matters as it is not entirely clear what units are going where. This is further compounded by the increasing reliance on the part of the Department of Defense on the mobilization of small-sized units to fill its manpower needs. These can range from individual companies, batteries, to even smaller-sized groups of troops rather the mobilization of entire battalion-sized units.

This being the case, mistakes, misidentifications, or ignorance regarding specific units being in the region, or not in the region will occur.

Troop levels

Beginning in late December 2003, the United States began implementing the OIF 2 troop rotation that would begin to bring roughly 130,000 Army personnel out of Iraq and deploy roughly 110,000 troops into Iraq as replacements. The rotation was expected to last until late April 2004 but increasing security concerns in April caused the redeployment of forces to be put on hold for roughly 90 days. The Army was rotating in the 1st Cavalry Division, elements of the 1st Infantry Division, elements of the 25th Infantry Division, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and an additional three brigades from the Army National Guard.

OIF-3 Rotation

Beginning in July 2004, the United States began implementing the OIF 3 troop rotation. OIF-3 plans call for troops numbers to be reduced from 140,000 to roughly 130,000. The rotation was slated to take place until March 2005.

According to documents presented during a HASC hearing on July 7, 2004, US force disposition plans call for a Stryker Brigade to remain stationed in Northern Iraq. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, will replace in this role the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. In the North-central sector of Iraq, The 1st Infantry Division will be replaced by the 42nd Infantry Division of the NY National Guard, while II MEF will take over I MEF operations in Western Iraq. The Brigade of the 1st Armored Division attached to the Polish south-central sector, will be replaced by the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain. Finally, the 3rd Infantry Division will take over the 1st cavalry Divison in Baghdad. As part of the rotation, OIF units will be deploying 'heavy'.

The number of Army National Guard brigades in Iraq will increase during this rotation from three to five. The rotation will mark a first with a National Guard division headquarters (42nd Infantry Division) assuming, for the first time in Iraq, command active-duty brigades.

With the planned January 2005 elections scheduled to be held in Iraq, the deployment of a number of units taking part in OIF 2 was extended in a manner similar to units which took part in OIF 1; this time in order to boost the number of troops in Iraq in time for the elections. The extension combined with regularly scheduled deployments and reinforcements would boost the US force in Iraq from 17 to 20 brigades and to an official and approximate figure of 153, 000 troops.

This figure may, however, be an undercount of actual in-country troop numbers, as Special Forces have been reported to generally be excluded from troop totals. As such, the total figure of US troops in Iraq may be higher than the official count of ~150,000 by multiple thousands. One such Special Forces unit, the 10th Special Forces Group deployed to Iraq in late-2004, for an undetermined length of time.

CENTCOM AOR

As of early March 2004 over 114,000 US personnel and over 23,000 coalition personnel from 35 nations were deployed in Iraq. Over 26,000 US and Coalition personnel were deployed in Kuwait, providing logistical support to Operation Iraqi Freedom. As of mid-April 2004 the number of troops in the Central Command Area of Responsibility was officially estimated at between 200,00 and 225,000 total. Inside the Horn of Africa there were around 1,200 that dedicate or focus themselves on the Horn of Africa. In Afghanistan there were around 20,000.

An additional 30,000 soldiers are estimated to be operating in Kuwait and other areas of the region supporting operations in Iraq. Thus, the total number of soldiers in Southwest Asia is believed to be about 170,000.

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. While deployments for active duty units generally lasts roughly 90-days, Reserve and Guard units deploy typically for 30 - 60 days. 17,000 airmen were deployed in the CENTCOM AOR according to Stars and Stripes on May 26, 2004.

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. As of 13 July 2004 there was one carrier strike group and one expeditionary strike group in the area for a total of around 17,000 naval personnel. A total of about 313 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, though based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 156 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

The Marine presence in Iraq is centered around the I Marine Expeditionary Force and the 1st Marine Division. Two Marine Expeditionary Units, the 11th and 24th MEU are deployed in Iraq. They were joined later by the 31st MEU. One Marine Expeditionary Unit is also in the region, though it is currently supporting operations in Afghanistan [and are thus not included in this tally]. On July 7, 2004, Lt. General Jan C. July, Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies, & Operations, USMC, testified that 26,427 Marines were deployed in Iraq. An additional 657 were deployed in the Horn of Africa. Marine tactical units deploy for seven months. Headquarters and command elements deploy, however, for 12 months periods.

Army/Reserve Component Distribution
OIFActiveReserve
175%25%
261%39%
357-58%42-43%

Army National Guard/Reserve Troop Numbers
OIFNational GuardReserve
233,00020,000
337,00017,000

According to July 7 testimony by Lt. General Jan C. July, the Marine Corps troop component distribution was at about 20% Reserves and 80% active duty.

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

DoD

  • The Department of Defense announced on Dec. 1, that "a request by the Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF(I)) to extend two Army brigades and a Marine Expeditionary Unit operating in Iraq [had been approved]. The Secretary also approved the Commander's request for two additional infantry battalions to deploy to Iraq." Affected by the extension order were the Army's 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, the 2nd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division, the Marine Corps' 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the 66th Transportation Company. Two battalions from the 82nd Airborne Division were also slated to deploy to Iraq for an anticipated duration of approximately 120 days. The approved request was to add an additional 1,500 active duty soldiers, and extends approximately 10,400 active duty combat forces. The extension, in conjunction with the current force rotation, would increase the U.S. forces in theater from 17 to 20 brigades, and increase the force size in Iraq to approximately 150,000 personnel during the election period.

  • The Washington Post reported On Nov. 21, that, according to senior U.S. military commanders, additional US troops would be required in Iraq to deal with the increased tempo of operations against the insurgency. Possible scenarios discussed included the need for an additional 3-5,000 troops, possibly drawing on a brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division, and/or delaying the redeployment of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division

  • On Oct. 30, 2004, DoD announced that it would extend the deployment of 6,500 troops in Iraq through the Iraqi elections, scheduled for late-January 2005. 3,500 soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and 3,000 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division are affected by the move. The units were officially told about the deployment adjustment by their commanders Oct. 28. The affected troops, who had originally been slated for 10-month deployments, will now serve 12 months on the ground, the deployment timeframe most Army units serve in Iraq.
    In addition, the 42nd Infantry Division's upcoming deployment was to be adjusted by 30 to 60 days to avoid swapping out a headquarters element during the critical Iraqi election period. The unit's headquarters troops mobilized May 27 to train for their mission at Fort Drum, N.Y.
    The official request was made in late September, and Army Gen. John Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command, made the decision Oct. 16, with the concurrence of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

  • USA Today reported on Oct. 26, that the Pentagon was considering a temporary increase in the number of troops deployed to Iraq for the period surrounding the January elections there. The plans would call for increasing the length of tours for unit already deployed there as well as accelarating the deployment of unit scheduled to rotate to Iraq. The plan might raise troop levels in the country to as high as 160,000 troops. The need for additional US troops would stem from the lack of additional allied foreign troop contributions as well as a shortage of trained and qualified Iraqi troops. Options under consideration, and mentioned in the article, would call for delaying the redeployment of the 1st Cavalry Division, accelerating the deployment of the 3rd Infantry Division, using reserves stationed in Kuwait, or deploying units from the 82nd Airborned Division
  • An Oct. 18, 2004 article in Stars and Stripes related that V Corps Headquarters had begun training in anticipation of a deployment to Iraq. III Corps HQ replaced V Corps in February 2004 while XVIII Airborne Corps is scheduled to replace III Corps early next year. Following this schedule, the article reports that V corps would be set to return to Iraq in early 2006, but that given the stated hope of Army officials to reduce tours to Iraq to a duration of 6 months, V Corps would return to Iraq as early as summer 2005.
  • An article in the Wall Street Journal published on Sept. 24, reported that the Pentagon was planning on a temporary increase in the number of US troops in Iraq around the time of elections to be held there in January. The increase in troop levels would take place in the January-April timeframe and would seek to take advantage of the ongoing rotations of units in and out of the country. The paper quoted an Army official as saying that "as many as three additional Army brigades -- about 15,000 troops -- could be in Iraq around the time of the elections and thereafter". The troop levels would then be reduced to 'regular' levels, ie 138,000 troops by the end of April.

CENTCOM

Army

  • The Associated Press reported on Dec. 24, on the return home of 260 troops assigned to the 21st Military Police Company, the 126th Finance Battalion and the 7th Transportation Battalion, 1st COSCOM
  • The Associated Press reported that the 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion had just returned home after a year spent in Iraq. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted. During that time, the unit was stationed at Camp Victory
  • A Dec. 24, Associated Press story mentioned that the 28th Signal Battalion was in Baghdad and attached to the 39th Infantry Brigade
  • A Dec. 22, Associated Press story mentioned that the 445th Civil Affairs Battalion was set to deploy to Iraq although no timeframe was given for its deployment.
  • The Associated Press reported on Dec. 21 that the 185th Aviation Group would return home on Christmas Eve.
  • The Associated Press reported on Dec. 21, that the 30th Infantry Brigade (eHSB) (MECH) would begin returning home starting around New Year's Day.
  • The Idaho Statesman reported on Dec. 18, that the 116th Brigade Combat Team had arrived at its station in Northen Iraq.
  • The Associated Press reported on Dec. 17, that 330 members of the Vermont National Guard had received mobilization orders for an evential deployment to the Middle East. The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Dec. 15, that the 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery had been mobilized and move to Camp Shelby, Miss., in early January for training before deploying for Iraq. Almost 500 men are affected by the order.
  • According to the Great Falls Tribune' Dec. 12 reporting, the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry depart for Kuwait on Nov. 27.
  • A Dec. 14 Army News story reported that the 1,500+ paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division had begun deploying to Iraq on Dec. 3, with the first troops arriving at Baghdad IAP the next day. The units involved were the 3rd Battalion, 325th AIR, attached to 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 2nd Battalion, 325th AIR, attached to the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
  • A Dec. 12, MNF-I/MNC-I News Release stated that the 13th COSCOM had transferred authority that day to the 1st Corps Support Command. It was unclear at the time which units assigned to either COSCOM were still in Iraq or were to be rotated in/out.
  • An Dec. 10, article in USA Today mentioned that the 276th Engineer Battalion was in Iraq and operating in Mosul. The deployment of that unit had not previously been noted.
  • According to a Dec. 9 Chicago Tribune piece, about 140 troops of the 133rd Signal Battalion will deploy to Iraq in support of the 48th Infantry Brigade.
  • The Honolulu Advertiser reported on Dec. 9, that the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade had been told to prepare for mobilization and would deploy to Iraq, sometimes after the Iraqi general elections of Jan. 30, 2005, likely in early-to-mid-2005.
  • The Christian Science Monitor reported on Dec. 9, that the 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division would deploy to Iraq the following month.
  • The Associated Press reported on Dec. 7, that almost all of the 10th Special Forces Group had deployed to Iraq in the weeks prior. No numbers or information regarding length of deployment were available.
  • According to a Dec. 7 Associated Press report, 182 troops from the 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery were mobilized in November for an eventual deployment to Iraq.
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Dec. 7, that 23 troops from the 184th Ordnance Battalion were deploying the day prior for Iraq. The unit was to be based near Baghdad IAP, but operate throughout the country with an approximate 200 technicians working with them there.
  • The El Paso Times reported on Dec.7 that 100 soldiers from the 263rd Quartermaster Company were deploying to Iraq. It also reported that in February, 600 soldiers from 1836th Transportation Company had deployed as well.
  • A Dec. 4 stroy by the State in Columbia, SC, reported that the 111th Signal Battalion and the 1st Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery were in Iraq. The deployment of these units had not been previously noted.
  • The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported on Dec. 3, that 2,400 National Guradsmen from Pennsylvania would be deployed to Iraq, in the state's largetst call-up since World War II. The troops are to begin mobilizing in January 2005. A piece in the Dec. 18 Pittsburgh Post Gazette clarified that the units affected are to be drawn from the 2nd Brigade, 28th Infantry Division. These are the 1st Battalion, 103th Armor, the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, and the 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry. Also affected by the call-up would be the 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry, the 876th Engineer Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 104th Cavalry, the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery, the 128th Forward Support Battalion and the 228th Forward Support Battalion.
  • On Dec. 1, the Associated Press reported that the 450 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry had been activated for a possible deployment to Iraq.
  • A December 1, Navy NewsStand story reported that equipment for the 3rd Infantry Division's upcomig deployment to Iraq had begun being loaded on Nov. 29, aboard Military Sealift Command's large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships (LMSRs) USNS Sisler (T-AKR 311) and USNS Seay (T-AKR 302) in Savannah, GA. Together, the ships were to load more than 514,000 square feet of military cargo. ccording to an Associated Press report, the ships were to transport 2,250 ground vehicles and 40 helicopters for the 3rd ID.
  • A Nov. 30, New Orleans Times-Picayune article reported that the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion would deploy to Iraq in April 2005.
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Nov. 28, that the 1st Brigade and 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division would, along with the 278th Regimental Combat Team from Tennessee and the 116th Brigade Combat Team would fall under the 42nd Infantry Division in Iraq. Additionally, the report stated that the 4th Brigade and 4th Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division would be supplemented by the 256th Brigade and the a href="../agency/army1ad-3bde.htm">3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, with the 2nd Brigade expected to be assigned responsibility for the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad while the 4th Brigade is tasked with patroling the "Green Zone."
  • The Lancaster Sunday News reported on Nov. 28, that the 1185th Transportation Terminal Brigade had been activated and deployed to Fort Dix for training before deploying to DKuwait for a year.
  • The Associated Press reported on Nov. 24, that approximately 100 men from the 1st Battalion, 245th Aviation, from the Oklahoma National Guard would deploy to Iraq by the end of the month.
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Nov. 21, that the 2,800 troops from the 48th Infantry Brigade would be mobilized on December 15, and report to Ft. Stewart for training in January. An additional 500 National Guard soldiers would join them and soldiers previously mobilized before deploying to Iraq in late-April, early-May 2005.
  • The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported on Nov. 20, that the 278th Armored Cavalry REGT began deploying on Nov. 19, to Iraq, via Kuwait. Flights carrying the unit's troops wer expected to last throught the weekend.
  • The Associated Press reported that 150 troops from A Co., 434th Main Support Battalion had been activated for an eventual deployment to Iraq. The unit would leave on Nov. 29 for Ft. Benning for training.
  • The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported on Nov. 19, that the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division would be stationed near Baqubah when it deploys to Iraq.
  • The Florida Times-Union reported on Nov. 18, that the 297th Military Intelligence Battalion deployed for Iraq on Nov. 17.
  • A Army News Story from Nov. 17 reported that approximately 300 paratroopers from the 1st Squadron, 17 Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division had deployed to Iraq from Green Ramp, Pope Air Force Base, on Nov. 11-12, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  • The Jackson Sun reported on Nov. 16, that 150 troops from the 230th Engineer Battalion would activate on Nov 18, for a likely deployment to Iraq.
  • The Associated Press reported on Nov. 13, that the 30th Infantry Brigade (eHSB) (MECH) might return home in January 2005.
  • The Associated Press reported on Nov. 12, that 350 or so members of the 44th Medical Command had left that day for Iraq. The 44th Medical Command Task Force in Iraq is to comprise approximately 3,400 personnel once in theater.
  • The Idaho Statesman reported on Nov.11 , that 1,600 troops from the 116th Cavalry Brigade would leave for Kuwait, enroute to Iraq, the day after Thanksgiving.
  • The Iowa State Daily reported on nov. 11, that the 394 Corps Support Battalion had returned home on Nov. 10, after having spent 10 months deployed in Kuwait at Camp Virginia where it was tasked with maintaining an army base camp.
  • The Macon Telegraph reported on Nov. 11, that about 1,300 members of the 48th Infantry Brigade would be activated in early December and begin undergroing training. The article also reported that an additional 2,300 members of the unit were expected to be also called up in January 2005. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the unit received its mobilization orders on Nov. 9.
  • An Army News Story from Nov. 10, reported that an advance party numbering moer than 500 soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division had departed for OIF 3, to staging areas in Kuwait, at the end of October, in preparation for TF Liberty's upcoming deployment.
  • The Associated Press reported on Nov.7, that more than 250 soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade had returned to the US the previous day. These troops returned home early as a result of having been deployed overseas to Egypt in 2002.
  • The Dayton Daily News (Ohio) reported on Nov. 4, that 480 soldiers from the 612th Engineer Battalion were being mobilized in mid-November for deployment to Iraq.
  • The Newark Advocate reported on Nov. 4, that 200 men from the 211th Maintenance Company had been mobilized for duty in Iraq.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 31, that the 812th Transportation Battalion had redployed home after 8 months in the Middle East.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 31, that the approximaterly 3,700 men of the 256th Brigade had arrived at Camp Victory North
  • The 0lympian reported on Oct. 30, that the 3rd BCT, 2nd Infantry Division had returned home.
  • The Tacoma News Tribune reported on Oct. 30, that 800 soldiers from the 62nd Medical Brigade would be deploying over the forthcoming weeks to Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar.
  • The Associated Press reportedon Oct. 29, that 200 troops from the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment left for training in preparation of their deployment to SouthWest Asia for 12 months.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 28, 2004, that the 278th Armored Cavalry REGT would begin deploying for Iraq, via Kuwait, in the days following Veterans' Day (Nov. 11, 2004).
  • During the Annual Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker and Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody discussed deployments, and cited the need for maintaining deployment length at 12 months. This was a result of the need to fight an adaptable enemy requires troops with experience on the ground. Shorter deployments would mean more troops per year needing "greening" time in theater to gain that experience. This was also a reason the rotation between Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 and 3 forces is being conducted across about a nine-month period rather than the roughly 45 days it took to swap out OIF 1 with OIF 2. As well, deployment lengths of 12 month reportedly allow Soldiers to establish and maintain contacts with the local population -- not only to win their "hearts and minds," but also for gathering intelligence on the insurgency, while shorter tours would mean greater demand for National Guard and Reserve units to mobilize than currently is the case. Furthermore, ongoing efforts to rebalance the force among the types of units in the active, Guard and Reserve, with the Army planning to convert 100,000 positions, means a number of Soldiers remain unavailable to deploy due to retraining requirements.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 25, that the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry was slated to be stationed north of Baghdad in December.
  • The Akron Beacon Journal reported on Oct. 22, that 200 men from the 1st Battalion, 107th Armor had been mobilized for an eventual deployment to Iraq. 154 men from the unit are already deployed in Iraq.
  • The 983rd Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) was mobilized in late September.
  • An article by the Associated Press reported on Oct. 22, that the 306th Military Police Battalion had been activated on Oct. 18 for a later deployment to Iraq.
  • The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) reported on Oct 20, that the 256th Brigade was already in Kuwait and would move into Iraq in the next couple of weeks.
  • An Oct. 15 Army News story reported that the 98th Division (Institutional Training) would be deploying more than 700 troops to Iraq to help train that nation's new Army. The unit would also provide command and control of advisory support teams as part of the Army's new Foreign Army Training Assistance Command or FA-TRAC. The deployment was scheduled to take place over the forthcomign two months.
  • An article in the Oct. 18 Los Angeles Times, mentioned that the 425th Civil Affairs Batttalion had left Iraq and returned to the US.
  • On Oct. 18, 2004, DoD announced the death of two soldiers in Karabilah from the 9th Psychological Operations Bn, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne). The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • On Oct. 18, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 1st Battalion, 25th Avitation assigned to TF Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • An Oct. 17, story by the Daily Press mentioned that most of the 7th Transportation Group was based at Camp Arifjan.
  • The Gazette (Colorado Springs) reported on Oct. 16, that 1000 soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group would deploy to the Middle East in the Fall, presumably Iraq.
  • On Oct. 16, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 2nd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery assigned to TF Olympia. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • On Oct. 16, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier in Mosul from the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion assigned to TF Olympia. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.
  • The St. Cloud Times (MN), reported on Oct. 15, that troops from the 1st Battalion, 194th Armor were being activated for an evntual deployment to Iraq. Not the entire unit was bing activated given the recent return of part of the unit's soldiers from deployment to Bosnia and Honduras in May and June.
  • The Des Moines Register reported on Oct. 15, that the 224th Engineering Battalion's 500 troops deployed for Iraq for a duration of 15 months on Oct. 14.
  • The Associated Press reported on Oct. 15, that the 114th Area Support Group 120 or so soldiers were expected to return home on Oct. 18. The Hattiesburg American, itself reported on Oct. 1, taht the unit was returning three months earlier than expected as a result of the unit replacing it having already arrived at station. While deployed it was assigned to the 377th Theater Support Command,
  • The Associated Press initially reported on Oct. 15 that 600 members from the Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Brigade were being deployed to Iraq. The Vermont Guard Burea later clarified that the troops were being sent to the CENTCOM AOR, but not to Iraq or Afghanistan on a security mission where they would be tasked with guarding buildings, airports and other critical areas.
  • The Lancaster New Era mentioned on Oct. 15, that the 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations) deployed to Iraq in January 2004. In parallel, the unit is attached to the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade also deployed in Iraq with III Corps Headquarters. Other units under the 504th MI Bde include the 15th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation), the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion (Tactical Exploitation) (Georgia Army National Guard), and the 321st Military Intelligence Battalion (Corps Support) (U.S. Army Reserves).
  • On Oct. 15, 2004, DoD announced the death of a soldier from the 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery assigned to TF Baghdad. The deployment of that unit had not been previously noted.

Marine Corps

Air Force

  • The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on Nov. 2, that the 200-300 emembers of the 148th Fighter Wing were likely to deploy to Iraq early next year. According to the press report, the deployment would also involve several F-16 fighters.

Navy

Coalition

  • On Jan. 10, 2005, the outgoing Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma, tasked his government's defense and foreign ministers to begin planning for the withdrawal of Ukraine's contingent from Iraq in the first half of 2005.
  • The United Kingdom announced on January 10, 2005, that it would deploy more troops to Iraq in order to help boost security support for the upcoming Iraqi elections. The UK would deploy an additional 400 troops from the 1st Battalion, "The Royal Highland Fusiliers," "for a limited period of time" as security reinforcements. The Cyprus-based battalion, known as the "Extremely High Readiness Reserve battalion," would deploy to Iraq to join Multinational Division (Southeast).
  • The South Korean parliament voted on Dec. 31 to extend the deployment of its contingent in Iraq for a period of one year.
  • Associated Press reported on Dec. 24, that Armenia's Parliament had approved that day by a vote of 91-23 the deployment of a contingent of 46 troops to Iraq. The troops's role would ostensibly only be to only conduct humanitarian operations. They would be assigned to the Polish Area of Responsibility. It was not exacly clear when the troops would be deployed, though it could happen as early as January 2005.
  • AFP reported on Dec. 22, that Hungary's contingent of troops had begun arriving home from Iraq that day at Budapest airport. All of Hungary's troops were reported by the Defence Ministry to have left Iraq that day, with the redeployment expected to be completed by Christmas. However, Hungary is set to deploy 150 non-combat troops to Iraq in mid-2005, as part of a larget NATO training mission, a mission which does not require parliamentary approval.
  • RFE/RL reported on Dec. 20, that Fiji's contingent of troops in support of UNAMI had arrived in Iraq. It also reported that Romania had offered 100 troops for UN security outside of Baghdad's Green Zone and that Georgia might deploy 500 troops, in support of UNAMI as well.
  • The Glasgow Herald reported that the UK ministry of Defence was calling up 150 medical reservists from Scotland. They would be deployed to man a field Hostpital in Iraq in the spring of 2005.
  • Poland announced on Dec. 14, that it would cut the size of its contingent in Iraq by 700 and down to 1,700 troops by February 2005
  • Agence France Presse reported on Dec. 8, that the deployment of the final group of 800 South Korean troops to Iraq was completed in November.
  • Agence France Presse reported on Dec. 4, that the 850 or so troops from the Black Watch Regiment redeployed south to Basra that day.
  • The Bulgarian troop rotation is due to be completed by the end of the year.
  • On Dec. 4, the Australian Defence Minister announced a naval rotation of Australian ships in the Persian Gulf in support of operations in Iraq, with the frigate HMAS Darwin to soon afterwards replace the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide.
  • A Dec. 3 ITAR-TASS report noted that there were 1,589 Ukrainian troops with 2,072 pieces of equipment deployed to Iraq. It also noted that a majority of the Ukrainian Parliament had offered their support for a proposal calling on the country's president to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
  • The Press Association reported on Dec. 1, that the British MoD had announced that day that the 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment would deploy to Iraq in early January 2005 as part of a normal rotation to replace troops of the 40 Commando Royal Marines stationed there.
  • The Macedonian state news agency reported on Nov. 30, that as part of a regularly scheduled rotation, a new contingent of troops was to deploy to Iraq and would be there from December 2004 until June 2005. The report stated that the unit would be drawn from the Rangers' Battalion of the Army Special Operations Forces and would number 32 troops in addition to a liaison officer in Baghdad, as well as another liaison officer and a representative at CENTCOM in Tampa, FL.
  • The Bulgarian news agency reported on Nov. 30, that the first group of troops from the fourth Bulgarian unit to rotate into Iraq had arrived at their base location at Camp E in al-Diwaniyah.
  • Agence France Presse reported on Nov. 30, that General Bill Rollo, second in command of British forces in Iraq, had acknowledged that more British might be dispatched to areas of Iraq under US control should the need arise.
  • A Nov. 29, 20004 AFPS story reported that Singapore dispatched on Nov. 27 a Singapore Armed Forces landing ship tank, RSS Resolution with a crew of 180, to the Persian Gulf. The ship will reportedly "protect waters around oil terminals and provide logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters. It also will conduct patrols, queries and boarding operations".
  • On Nov. 28, the Sunday Telegraph reported that the 2nd Battalion of The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment had been put on 10 days notice to deploy to Iraq. If deployed, it would add another 1,000 or so British troops on the ground.
  • A Nov. 28, Bulgarian News Agency quoted the country's Defense Minister as laying a pullout of the country's contingent in Iraq as being dependent on 3 factors: 1) democratic elections; 2) functionning law-enforcement structures; and 3) a request by a new Iraqi government for a pull-out.
  • According to a BBC Monitoring report of a Bulgarian Radio item, troops used to fill the 4th Infantry Battalion dispatched to Iraq are drawn from the country's 68th Special Forces Brigade in Plovdiv.
  • In a Nov. 18 interview with Rzeczpospolita, the Polish deputy chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen Mieczyslaw Cieniuch, confirmed that Poland would have a smaller contingent of troops deployed to Iraq when it implements its fourth rotation of troops there in January 2005. The number of troops was however undetermined.
  • The Associated Press reported on Nov. 17, that Bulgaria had begun the fourth rotation of its troop contingent in Iraq, but said that the unit, numbering 462 troops, would leave for Iraq by January 5, 2005.
  • AFP repoted on Nov. 16, that following the Parliamentary vote against extending the deployment of the country's contingent in Iraq, the Hungarian government was considering sending troops to Iraq in 2005, but as part of a NATO training force.
  • The Hungarian Parliament vote on Nov. 15, against extending the mandate of its contingent in Iraq to March 31, 2005. The mandate of the troops is set to expire on December 31, 2004. As a result, Hungary will withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of the year. The Hungarians were tasked with logistical transport duties in Iraq.
  • Agence France Presse reported on Nov. 14, that Japan had deployed 200 troops from the GSDF 6th Division based at Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture, to Iraq the previous day to relieve forces some of its forces already in-country. Part of the country's fourth contingent, they are to be followed by an additional 300 troops by the end of the month. According to a Nov. 13, Kyodo News Service report, the remaining troops are from the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures and the contingent will replace Japan's third contingent from the GSDF 9th Division, based in Aomori.
  • The Korea Herald reported on Nov. 12, that the remaining 800 south Korean troops scheduled to deploy to Iraq would be dispatched the following month.
  • The Melbourne Herald Sun reported on Nov. 5, that Australia was dispathing a 45-strong contingent to Iraq as part of a four-monthly rotation of troos for the 120-strong security detachment guarding the Australian embassy in Iraq. The contingent is made up of soldiers from the 5/7th Battalion, some troops from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, as well as some military police troops.
  • RIA Novosti reported on Nov. 7, that Georgia was dispatching a contingent of 300 troops to Iraq via Kuwait. The rotation was to be completed by late the following week and would mark a near-doubling of the country's presence in Iraq.
  • The US Dept. of State announced on Nov. 4, that Georgia would increase the size of its contingent in Iraq from 159 to 850, although the increase was framed as being made in order to provide security for the United Nations presence in Iraq.
  • The International Herald Tribune reported on Nov. 4, that the Netherlands had confirmed that week that it would not rotate in new troops to replace the contingent in country once its deployment expires.
  • Bulgaria annouced on Nov. 3 that it would reduce the size of its contingent in Iraq to 430 troops during the next scheduled unit rotation, when the 4th Infantry Battalion replaces the 3rd Battalion.
  • The Associated Press reportedon on Nov. 3, 2004, that Hungary would withdraw its contigent of troops from Iraq by the end of March 2005.
  • Geoff Hoon, the British Defence Secretary, gave assurances on November2, before the Commons defence select committee that the Black Watch regiment troops deployed to Central Iraq would be pulled out within 30 days, and return to its base in Basra, by 2 December, 2004.
  • The UK announced it would redeploy approximately 850 Black Watch troops to an area near Baghdad from their location near Basrah. The contingent would include 650 troops from the regiment in addition to 200 support troops. According to BBC, Geoff Hoon, UK Defence Minister denied reports the UK would dispatch an additional 1,300 troops to Iraq. The London Times reported on Oct. 21, that the 1,300 troops would be involved in the event that contingency plans had to be put into action. These plans reportedly call for one battalion to be sent to S. Iraq, with another battalion if need be for a short period. Under these plans, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, based in Cyprus, would be likely to be deployed to Iraq on short notice. The article also mentioned that of the UK contingent of troops in Iraq, only 7,400 were ground troops.
  • The Algemeen Dagblad reported on Oct. 21, that the Netherlands woudl pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, at the end of the troop's mandate. Citing the Dutch Defense Minister, the Dutch Government had reportedly turned down an Iraqi Governmetn request to extend the Dutch contingent's stay in-country.
  • The Ukrainian national security and defense council decided on Oct. 19, to gradually reduce the size of its contingent in Iraq. The reduction is reported to begin with the rotation of troops begun on Sep. 22 and will reduce the number of troops there by 200. The rotation was completed on Oct. 15, with 1,200 troops having returned home.



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list