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Seasoned Vet
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I was amazed of all of the diffrent units in Iraq, plus the units coming and going is amazing
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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.
The task of developing a comprehensive listing of US forces present in the area is particularly difficult as forces have been known to rotate in and out of the region in response to heightened operational tempo or exercises. 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 and to deceive potential enemies and the media, among others.
Furthermore, the volume of troops moving in and out of the region will surely result in mistakes, misidentifications, or ignorance regarding specific units.
Exluding forces deployed in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, there are probably about 185,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 500 aircraft of all types. The number of troops deployed in the area fluctuates on a daily basis as new forces surge into the region and some units begin to return to the United States.
Ground 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, 101st Airborne Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and an element of the 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed to Iraq. There are a significant number of echelon above division support units in the region. It is believed that the total Army presence in the region is nearly 155,000 soldiers. Army equipment figures are based on standard Tables of Organization and Equipment for the units deployed. The number of Army mechanized equipment actually on the ground is thought to be roughly 814 M1 Abrams and 549 M2 Bradleys. There are 140 AH-64 Apache helicopters in the region.
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. In an effort to provide relief to pilots that had been deployed for prolonged periods of time the Air Force initiated a "Blue" rotation that would bring new assets to the region. It is not clear just how many airmen are deployed, though the number is likely to be around 10,000 with roughly 250 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 Battle Group, with its associated Carrier Air Wing, has approximately 11,000 sailors embarked. As of 15 July 2003 there was one carrier strike group and one amphibious ready group in the area for a total of around 61,000 naval personnel. These units included about 175 helicopters and aircraft. A total of about 449 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 250 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
CENTCOM
The 455th Chemical Brigade has been identified as the lead military unit taking part in the Iraq Survey Group. The unit is replacing the 75th Exploitation Task Force, and is believed to have multiple unidentified units conducting searches for WMD.
Army
A III Corps press release indicates that the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division will begin deploying in January 2004 and will be followed by the rest of the division over an unspecified period of time. This press release also indicated that the 39th Infantry Brigade would also be deploying with the unit, though it did incorrectly state that the Brigade had a mechanized battalion, the 39th is a light infantry brigade.
275 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division are returning to the United States on August 14, 2003 according to a press release issued by Fort Stewart. The units include the headquarters company for the 3rd ID, the HHC for the 2-7th Infantry, the 123rd Signal Battalion, soldiers from the 3-7th Infantry, the 703rd Main Support Battalion, and the HHC for the 1st Brigade. The release indicates that roughly 16,720 soldiers from the division have returned home with roughly 3,940 soldiers still in Southwest Asia. (These figures do not include the 275 on their way back)
The 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion is currently operating in Iraq, according to the Associated Press on August 14, 2003. Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., a soldier with the unit, died in his sleep on August 12.
300 soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment are operating in Djibouti in support of CJTF-HOA.
The Public Affairs Officer for the 10th Mountain Division indicates that roughly 1,000 soldiers from the division are still in Iraq and that the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment (Task Force 1-32) is preparing to deploy to the region shortly.
The 354th Civil Affairs Brigade has been operating in Iraq for some time, and has not been included in previous editions due to an oversight. The unit appears to be operating in Baghdad.
The 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment returned to the United States in July 2003 according to the Associated Press on August 6, 2003.
The Associated Press reports on August 12, 2003 that the remaining elements of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team returned to Fort Stewart on August 11.
The 65th Engineer Battalion is not operating in Iraq contrary to information attached to a US Army photograph of soldiers operating in support of OIF. According to members of the unit who were kind enough to correct the mistake, the unit is not currently deployed.
Fort Riley announced on August 7, 2003 that roughly 3,000 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division would deploy to Iraq, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, sometime in late August. The units tapped to deploy include the 1-16th Infantry, the 1-34th Armor, 1-5th Field Artillery, 1st Engineer Battalion, 101st Forward Support Battalion, Battery C 4-3rd Air Defense Artillery, Troop D 4th Cavalry, 331st Signal Company, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, 1st Maintenance Company, 568th Engineer Company, and Company D 15th Personnel Services Battalion.
Navy
212 Seabees from Naval Mobile Contruction Battalion 133 return from Iraq on August 14, 2003 according to the Biloxi Sun Herald. 297 additional sailors from the unit will return on August 16.
The USS Providence and the USS Augusta returned to New London in early August 2003.
Marine Corps
The 1st Force Reconnaissance Company is currently operating in Iraq according to a Marine Corps News story on August 1, 2003.
An unknown number of Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group is operating in Iraq.
Air Force
Aircraft have been sent to Incirlik according to an Air Force release on August 19, 2003. The AFPN story indicates that 4 KC-135R's from the 121st Air Refueling Wing were dispatched to the area to support operations in Iraq. This dramatic increase in operations at Incirlik, which sent back a number of its aircraft following the beginning of the war.
Roughly 100 airmen from the 137th Airlift Wing returned to Oklahoma on August 09, 2003 according to the Associated Press on August 10.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on August 5, 2003 roughly 75 airmen from the 152nd Airlift Wing deployed to Qatar on August 4 and will join the units 4 C-130s and 40 other airmen for 4 months.
Coalition
360 soldiers from El Savador departed for Iraq on August 12, 2003 according to the Associated Press. 370 soldiers from Honduras departed on August 10, and 115 troops from Nicaragua departed on August 12.
Elements of New Zealands 2 Engineer Regiment are preparing to deploy to Iraq to support with reconstruction activities, according to the Evening Standard on 13 August 2003. Roughly 61 soldiers will deploy and the unit will supplement a British engineer regiment that is already there.
The Czech battalion that is to deploy to Iraq and replace the 7th Field Hospital has been identified as the Chrudim Battalion, according to the Czech News Agency on August 12, 2003.
150 soldiers from the Dominican Republic departed for Iraq on August 11 according to the Associated Press on the same day
------------------------------------------------------------ Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC ----------------------------------------------------------- 
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