The Department of Defense announced today the 173rd
Airborne Brigade, located in Vicenza, Italy, will deploy to Afghanistan
beginning in spring 2007. The brigade, which was previously scheduled
to deploy for Operation Iraqi Freedom, will instead deploy to
Afghanistan. Upon the recommendation of commanders on the ground, the
Secretary of Defense approved this request, which will maintain the
current level of forces necessary to provide sufficient military
capability for the NATO-International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
to further improve security and stability operations.
This
deployment affects approximately 3,200 personnel, and sustains the
United States' current commitment to Afghanistan by providing a
replacement for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, which was recently extended for up to 120 days. Two
U.S. brigade combat teams in Afghanistan provide military capability
and combat power required
for NATO to continue its initiatives in promoting stability and
security in the winter and spring, while denying safe haven for the
Taliban.
The
United States continues to be NATO-ISAF's
largest troop contributor, and remains committed to leading the
offensive in counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, training and
equipping the Afghan national security forces and assisting with
reconstruction. Force levels in
Afghanistan are conditions-based and will be determined in consultation
with the Afghan government and NATO.
DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments, to include the
replacement unit for the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Iraq, as
they are identified and alerted. For information on the unit announced
today, please contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.