Lewis SBCT part of Afghanistan increase

[unhappycamper]

President makes decision
17,000 soldiers and Marines to bolster U.S. forces


Lewis SBCT part of Afghanistan increase
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 17, 2009 18:57:01 EST

Soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, of Fort Lewis, Wash., will deploy to Afghanistan this summer as part of an increase in forces there, a senior Army official told Army Times.

The official confirmed the decision Tuesday after news leaked that President Barack Obama had approved the increase. The 5th SBCT was supposed to deploy to Iraq, but has now been “remissioned,” he said.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday the total troop increase in Afghanistan will be about 12,000 troops.

The deployment of the 5th SBCT marks the first time the Army has sent a Stryker brigade to Afghanistan. The brigade is the Army’s newest Stryker brigade. Its approximately 4,000 soldiers are training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Canadian forces have been operating in southern Afghanistan with the Grizzly armored personnel carrier, which is much like a Stryker, the senior Army official said.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/army_5SBCT_021109w/%2e