Army sending Strykers to Iraq

ARNEWS Army News Service ^ | 10-09-03 | John Randt, MTMC Public Affairs

[Cannoneer No. 4]

TACOMA, WASH. - The Army's new Stryker armored vehicles are headed for their first operational assignment -- service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Vehicles of the Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade Combat Team began rolling onto ships today at the port of Tacoma, Wash. The Stryker vehicles and related equipment will support 3,600 soldiers from the I Corps' 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division who will begin their assignment in Iraq in a few weeks.

This week’s move at the port of Tacoma represents several benchmarks for the port, according to the Military Traffic Management Command. It’s the biggest movement of military cargo at the port since Operation Desert Shield in 1990. In addition, this is the first time Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels of the Navy's Military Sealift Command have ever visited the port. The two vessels designated for the move are the USNS Shugart and the USNS Sisler.

"This is an historic move," said Lt. Col. Darren Zimmer, commander of the 833rd Transportation Battalion, the unit conducting the loadout for MTMC. "This is the first use of the Stryker vehicles in an active combat environment. My unit is honored to have such a significant role in support of both a changing Army and Operation Iraqi Freedom."

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team completed its combat certification at Fort Polk, La., in May. The wheeled Stryker vehicles are part of the Army's transformation to move to a more agile combat force that may be transported faster.

(Information provided by John Randt, MTMC Public Affairs.)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stryker Brigade Combat Team Tactical Studies Group (Chairborne)

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[wtc911]

The son of one of our friends is a ring-knocker in charge of one of these companies. He has a young daughter and a beautiful ex-army wife. We include him in our prayers.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Boots and Saddles, boys and girls, they're going to war.

[Mark Felton]

Make no mistake, the US Armed Forces are preparing for war in Syria.

The heaviest most advanced armored brigade (4th ID) is sitting ready to do to Syria what the lighter 3rd brigade and 1st MEU did to Iraq.

[MonroeDNA]

Pray hard.

They are going to need it.

[JasonC]

Um, if they are going by ship (ro-ro), then why not send Bradleys? (Yes yes I know, trying it out yada yada. But it suggests they aren't quite as airmobile as advertised).

[wtc911]

I posted war against Syria as a by product of Iraqi occupation at least six months ago. I believe now as then that we said that any nation harboring terrorists will be given the choice to turn them over or face the consequences knowing that Syria would never opt for the first.

We are at their doorstep, no need for a six month build-up across thousands of miles. The asshole turks are finally acting like they got a pair, which will take some of the pressure off. My only concern is manpower issues. This Stryker Brigade is an element of 2ID. 2ID's missionn since 1953 has been the Korean peninsula. The Fort Lewis contingent has historically been a long disiance QRF for their brothers in country. This force is now depleyed significantly.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

What we were told we were getting in 1999 ain't what we got.

[Michael121]

Well it is like the old Halftrack. It gets the boys into battle, it is not made to do battle. It has defenses and against troops and light vehicles it can be offensive. It is fast, it has better armor than a Hummer. It has real time commo and intel.....

We shall see how they fair. I would rather bet on an American soldier in a Stryker than a terrorist in a Toyota.

[mark502inf]

But it suggests they aren't quite as airmobile as advertised

Unless we're in a hurry, the Army always sends its stuff by ship; even for units like the 10th Mountain & 82d Airborne--lots cheaper.

[Mark Felton]

Just watch the Navy. Anybody know where the carrier battle groups are right now? Are they deployed, or in port?

[mark502inf]

The Fort Lewis contingent has historically been a long disiance QRF for their brothers in country. This force is now depleted significantly.

And the other Korea oriented unit--the guys in Hawaii--are heading to the mid-east later; we're definitely gambling that the looney-tune in N.Korea won't head south--and gambling is what you're doing when you try to do operate with insufficient forces at the strategic level--you have to rely not on your ability to handle the bad guys, but on the bad guys not taking advantage of you.

[tbpiper]

Most of the trouble makers in the Mosul area are from Syraia. Some troops abmushed a bus load of Syrian jehadis several weeks ago. They come into the mosques and teach 'American Killing 101' classes. Unfortunately, the 101st Rules of Engagement have be changed to 'don't shoot until you get shot(at)'. Somebody a company HQ has thier head up their....

[wtc911]

No, watch the Air Force. If it deploys to Turkey then it's in preparation.

[Darksheare]

I'm in.
That is an understatement.
Archy has tons of info on this, did he get pinged yet?

[wtc911]

Isn't the 1st Stryker Brigage a component of 25ID?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

archy got pinged along with everybody else on the SBCTTSG (ChABN), but there are a lot of threads going on at the same time tonight.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The first operational, certifed, SBCT is 3/2.

The next one will be 1/25.

If the plan does not change, the next ones after that will be 172, 2/25, 2nd ACR and a Bde out of the PAARNG whose number I can't remember off hand.

[wtc911]

btw....We've got good friends in the 187 and 327 (both deployed) that we send beaucoup stuff to on a regular basis.