Posted on 04/15/2004 8:21:43 PM PDT by BushMeister
By Catherine Caruso
"What if" is now "maybe" for 3rd Infantry Division troops concerned that recent events in Iraq may mean their return trip comes earlier than previously planned.
CENTCOM commander Gen. John Abizaid has said he may pair a delayed redeployment of the 1st Armored Division with an earlier return for the 3rd Infantry Division to increase troop levels in the country, the Washington Post reported Friday.
Local commanders received a warning order weeks ago to prepare to deploy within the year.
In a message to troops published in the division's command information newspaper at that time, Gen. William Webster wrote he anticipated the deployment would occur between November and February.
But as attacks against soldiers and foreigners in Iraq have increased, the question of whether the 3rd ID will return early has been asked more and more often.
Part of the answer may have come Thursday, when 1st Armored Division troops preparing to leave Iraq were warned to expect to stay an additional three months, the Associated Press reported.
But on Friday, military officials said higher-ups are still investigating options, both short and long term.
"General Abizaid has said all options are on the table as far as troop rotations to Iraq. A decision has not been made yet," Capt. Bruce Frame, a CENTCOM spokesman, said.
Locally, division staff did not rule out any possibility.
"We don't engage in speculation," said Steve Hart, a Fort Stewart spokesperson. "Should we get an order from the secretary of defense or the president to deploy earlier, then we will execute. The timeline that we have is general in nature, but absolutely, we will deploy earlier if the nation needs us to."
One analyst said he believes an early deployment of the entire division is unlikely.
John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, said he doesn't think it makes much sense to send a full extra division into the theater at this point.
"They don't need divisions over there, they need battalions. These are really by and large small unit actions. And I think if they looked around, they could find a lot of battalions lying around (that are not attached to a division)," he said.
Pike said he believes any decision regarding the deployment of additional troops will be at least week away, because military commanders will need time to re-evaluate the situation on the ground.
"Right now, they are talking as if they are regaining control of these towns," he said. "It will either become apparent that this was just a temporary flare-up, that this was just a rerun of the Ramadan offensive last November, or that this has become a whole new war."
1st Armored Division already in Iraq, extended for 90 days beyond 1-year deployment in Iraq
1st Cavalry Division already in Iraq, or deploying there
1st Infantry Division already in Iraq
2nd Infantry Division already in Iraq (1 Bde.), in Korea (2 Bdes.)
3rd Infantry Division going to 4 brigades, re-training. Left Iraq 6/2003
4th Infantry Division Recently left Iraq 3-4/2004
25th Infantry Division already in Iraq (1 Bde.), deploying to Iraq (1 Bde.), training Ft. Polk (1 Bde.)
10th Mountain Division already In Afghanistan (1 Bde., possibly elements of other Bde. as well)
82nd Airborne Division already in Iraq, (2 Bdes.), 1 Bde. recently left
101st Airborne division Recently left Iraq - 2-3/2004
2nd ACR already in Iraq, extended for 90 days beyond 1-year deployment in Iraq
3rd ACR Recently left Iraq - late 3/2004
173rd Airborne Brigade Recently left Iraq - 3/2004
1st Marine Division already in Iraq
2nd Marine Division Camp Lejeune, not sure if they're being considered.
3rd Marine Division Okinawa, Japan
The problem with redeploying the 3rd INF DIV so early is that it's currently undergoing reorginazation from 3 brigades into 4 as the Army's first Division to be so adjusted. Perhaps Pike is right, and CENTCOM will hunt around for a few battalions to add to the fight, rather than throw a monkey wrench into the 3rd ID reorg plans.
For more on the 3rd ID reorg, go here:
Track the status of US Army brigades here:
Same for the National Guard units here:
If any of this info is incorrect, I'm sure somone on FR will point it out ;-).
1st INF Div, accompanied by 30th INF Brigade of the North Carolina National Guard.
1st Marine Division, accompanied by the 81st Armored Brigade of the Washington State National Guard.
1st CAV Div, accompanied by the 39th INF Brigade from the Arkansas National Guard.
Interestingly, the 1st Marine Division will command one brigade of the US Army 1st INF DIV.
Another interesting thing you'll find on the links above is that the Army is going to create 4 new aviation brigades, each with a total of 48 Apaches (2 battalions of 24 each) and 30 Blackhawks, along with an UAV unit and maintenance company. Current aviation battalions only have 18 Apaches.
Well, it's too far off to help us now, but perhaps the Army's new structure might alleviate the situation somewhat. The Army currently has 33 brigades, and is shooting for 48. The number of National Guard brigades is currently 15 and targeted for 22. That would increase total Army brigade strength from 48 to 70.
The concept seems to be that brigades should be more deployable and self-sufficient than they are now. That would give flexibility when it comes to deployments. Of course, much still needs to be worked out, and the reorginaztion will face problems. I think it's a good idea, overall. I just hope those demobilized air defense and artillery units can be re-mobilized if we faced a real major combat crisis (Korea/China).
Not sure what the brigade equivalent of the current Marine force is, as they use a regiment structure. I think they currently have about 15 regiments in the 3 Marine Divisions, plus other elements. Any Marines know for sure?
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