From one who I have known for 20 years, and who is in a position to know, I have had hints to the effect that this unit and its commander were known to be slovenly excuses for soldiers prior to deployment, with a low mission-readiness rating, poor training, and crap morale and discipline.
Aftershocks of the Clinton Disaster.
I don't know how it will pan out when the unit's pre-deployment reviews hit the press/congress/court.
I suspect that the tagline will somehow be "It was Bush's/Rummy's decision to field these deckapes - it is ALL BUSH'S FAULT!" irrespective of how utterly unrealistic that pov is.
I've heard some of the same things you've heard.
Sometimes you just get a bunch that are bad.