By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON - The 4th Infantry Division's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan this summer as part of the surge of American troops to the country, Defense Department officials said here today.
The deployment order brings the number of U.S. troops notified for deployment to 25,000. President Barack Obama promised to send 30,000 additional U.S. forces to the nation this year.
The 2,600-man 4th Combat Aviation Brigade is based at Fort Hood, Texas, and makes up the greatest part of this deployment. Another 500 support-forces soldiers also are deploying. Officials did not say where the soldiers ultimately will be based in Afghanistan.
On Dec. 7, Pentagon officials announced the first deployment as part of the Afghan surge. Officials said 16,000 servicemembers would deploy, including a reinforced Marine battalion with about 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C. That unit has arrived in Regional Command South in Afghanistan.
Camp Lejeune also will send Regimental Combat Team 2 with 6,200 Marines in early spring 2010. An 800-member Marine headquarters unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif., also will deploy in the spring.
The 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, based in Fort Drum, N.Y., will deploy in the spring to train and mentor Afghan security forces.
On Dec. 22, Pentagon officials announced the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team from Fort Campbell, Ky., will deploy in early spring, along with another 2,600 support personnel.
Pentagon officials said they expect to identify the last of the troops to deploy with the surge soon.
About 70,000 American forces are in Afghanistan today, along with 43,000 allied troops from 42 countries. Ultimately, more than 100,000 U.S. troops and 50,000 coalition troops will be in the country.
