Global Special Operations |
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Global Special Operations |
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By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2005 With the Army's 18th Airborne Corps taking over as
the Multinational Corps Iraq headquarters, the 2004-2006 rotation of troops is
well under way.
Troops have been flowing into and out of Iraq since October as part of the
rotation. When finished, there will be about 138,000 American servicemembers in
Iraq.
DoD officials said spreading out the rotation makes sense from both an
operational and logistical standpoint. Spreading out the rotation allows for a
mix of experienced and new units in country. Logistically, the flow in and out
of theater is more manageable.
The 18th Airborne Corps, based at Fort Bragg. N.C., replaced the Army's 3rd
Corps, based at Fort Hood, Texas. The headquarters is at Camp Victory outside
Baghdad. The Multinational Corps commands all coalition forces in country with
the exception of special operations forces, the Multinational Transition
Security Command Iraq and coalition forces involved in detention operations.
The New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division headquarters took over
command of Multinational Division North Central from the 1st Infantry Division
on Feb. 14. The division is headquartered in Saddam Hussein's hometown of
Tikrit and includes such hotspots as Samarra and Baqubah. Units of the Big Red
One have been returning to their bases in Germany. Two brigades of the 3rd
Infantry Division will serve under the 42nd as will the Idaho National Guard's
116th Brigade Combat team and the Tennessee Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry
Regiment.
The troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Irwin, Calif.,
took command from Task Force Olympia on Feb. 13. The 1st Brigade (Stryker), 25th
Infantry Division, is serving under the cavalry's command. The unit has been in
country since September.
In the west, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, normally based at Camp
Pendleton, Calif., is due to turn over command to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The MEF is responsible for Anbar province, which
includes Fallujah, Ramadi and all the way to the Syrian and Jordanian borders.
The Army's 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, will serve under the MEF
commander.
Concurrently, the 2nd Marine Air Wing, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station,
N.C., will replaced the 3rd Wing, Miramar Naval Air Station, Calif. The unit is
based in Al Asad, Iraq.
The 3rd Infantry Division will begin its second tour in Iraq when it relieves
the 1st Cavalry Division by the end of February. The 3rd, out of Fort Steward,
Ga., will lead Multinational Division Baghdad and will consist of two brigades
of the 3rd, the 256th Brigade Combat Team from the Louisiana National Guard, the
3rd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division and the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain
Division. The 1st Cav will return to Fort Hood.
The Hawaii Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team will replace Washington State's 81st
brigade around Baghdad.
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq
1st and 2d Brigades, 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany
48th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Georgia Army National Guard
172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska
1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Ft. Drum, N.Y.
101st Airborne Division, Air Assault (division headquarters and 4 brigades), Ft. Campbell, Ky.
1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kan.
4th Infantry Division (division headquarters and 4 brigades), Ft. Hood, Texas
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan
10th Mountain Division (3rd and 4th Brigades and headquarters elements), Ft. Drum, N.Y.
53rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, Florida National Guard
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