Pentagon Officials Announce 2010 Afghanistan Deployments

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2009 – Pentagon officials today announced additional replacement units scheduled to deploy next year to Afghanistan as part of the requirement to maintain the current level of security efforts there, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said today.

More than 11,000 soldiers from three units – two from the active duty Army and one from the Army National Guard -- will rotate into Afghanistan in the spring, summer and fall of 2010.

The units that received orders are:

-- 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, Ky.;

-- 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany; and

-- 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard.

The forces will be assigned to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. Although commanders in Afghanistan haven’t officially determined the regions the units will operate in, they replace brigades in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Also, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved deployment orders to Afghanistan for a squadron of MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 from Jacksonville, N.C., at the request of commanders in Afghanistan, Whitman said.

The squadron is scheduled to deploy in November.

The squadron is made up of about 200 Marines who operate and maintain the aircraft, which have both vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. The aircraft is designed to perform missions like those of conventional helicopters, with the added benefit of long-range, high-speed cruise performance, he said.

[SandRat]

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[airborne]

And my nephew will be among those going to Afghanistan.

May God bless him and protect him, and every other brave American soldier.

[Recon Dad]

My son Pat left today for Afghanistan, your prayers for a safe deployment would be welcome from all my friends at Free Republic.

[SandRat]

A Soldier’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, Mighty Warrior and Prince of Peace, all glory and power is yours. I offer myself and my military career for the welfare of our nation and for your glory.
You said “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”; make us mindful of our nation’s heritage and of who we are. You said “Be strong and of good courage”, this is my prayer. You said “A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength”; be my protection and my strength. While I defend the nation, may all of Heaven safeguard my family back home.

Almighty God, when you will to safely return me home, help me to see in each member of my family all that I am willing to fight for- life, liberty, freedom and justice. Give me wisdom to share what experiences would lead my sons to Christ-like valor, my daughters to Christian compassion. When Mary witnessed you falling wounded to the ground, she reaffirmed her trust in God her savior. Fill my spouse with surety in your divine plan for me, our family and our nation. You called me to be a soldier. March along side me. Jesus, I place my trust in you. Amen.

[airborne]

Amen!

[SandRat]

Asking Divine Protection for Those In Service

O God, I beseech You, watch over those exposed to the horror of war,
and the spiritual dangers of a soldier’s or sailor’s life.

Give them such a strong faith that no human respect may ever lead them to deny it,
nor fear ever to practice it.
By Your grace, O God,
fortify them against the contagion of bad example,
that being preserved from vice,
and serving You faithfully,
they may be ready to meet you face to face when they are so called:
through Christ our Lord.
Amen

[HChampagne]

Why do we still have troops permanently stationed in Germany and also Okinawa?

[fatima]

Amen,God bless them all and their families.

[sl-17b]

Good luck and best wishes for your nephew.

My nephew is an MP in Germany and will be deploying there as well.

[airborne]

Thanks, and prayers for yours.

I hope they get those 40,000 reinforcements soon.

Obama is as dangerous to our troops as A-Quada.

[MarineMom613]

My son is scheduled for Jan.

[samsmom]

I pray for our troops every night. My son is also a Marine— still stationed at Camp LeJeune. I dread his deployment as I no longer see the point of continuing this effort when we’re not providing adequate forces and the rules of engagement hurt our boys. God bless and watch over your son and all our troops.

[Enough_Deceit]

Both of my sons are scheduled to go to Afghanistan in 2010. I agree wholeheartedly with you. I feel the same way.

[samsmom]

I wish there was something we could do as moms. Go down to D.C. en masse or call the Armed Services Committee (which I have). I don’t know about your sons, but mine hasn’t shot his rifle since March. He is getting more anxious about critical training he feels he is lacking. We’re hoping it means he may not be deploying to a battle zone and resources are going to the guys who are. But somehow I just think it’s just poor planning and lack of funding.

[FlashBack]

They are reporting here that this is the largest deployment of Iowa Reserves since WW II...God Bless and Protect our Troops...from all states!!