[BuckeyeTexan]

They will be protecting CDC, DoD, etc. personnel who are currently there (with more on the way) transporting equipment and supplies, and building field hospitals. A significant number of our troops will be stationed at and supporting an intermediate staging base.

Without some number of armed U.S. forces to protect our personnel and guard equipment/supplies during transport and configuration, the equipment/supplies would likely be stolen/abused.

I'm not happy about sending our boys, but our other personnel need them. It's kind of like the Haiti earthquake response ... but with Ebola. 😕

[kabar]

But Obama is stating the military has a different mission beyond just force protection.

The U.S. response to the crisis, to be formally unveiled later by President Barack Obama, includes plans to build 17 treatment centers, train thousands of healthcare workers and establish a military control center for coordination, U.S. officials told reporters.