DoD Announces Force Adjustments
May 19, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the alert of additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves four brigades from the Army National Guard.

All four brigades will have a security force mission and be assigned tasks to assure freedom of movement and continuity of operations in the country. Those tasks will include base defense and route security in Iraq and Kuwait.

These deployments will involve approximately 14,000 personnel who will begin deploying in the spring of 2009. They are receiving alert orders now in order to provide them the maximum time to complete their preparations. It also provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan for military service of their employees.

Specific decisions made by the secretary of defense include:

• 72nd Brigade Combat Team, Texas National Guard
• 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard
• 256th Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana National Guard
• 278th Brigade Combat Team, Tennessee National Guard

Unit deployments reflect the continued commitment of the United States to the security of the Iraqi people. The Department recognizes the continued sacrifices of these units and their family members.

DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as they are identified and those units are alerted. For information on the units announced today or other units involved in this rotation, please contact Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs at (318) 641-5610, Pennsylvania National Guard Public Affairs at (717) 861-8468, Tennessee National Guard Public Affairs at (615) 313-0662, or Texas National Guard Public Affairs at (512) 782-1034.