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Pursuant to President Obama’s decision today, Secretary Gates ordered the deployment of two additional combat units, totaling more than 12,000 troops, to Afghanistan. The 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), from Camp Lejeune, N.C., with approximately 8,000 Marines will deploy to Afghanistan in late Spring 2009. The 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Ft. Lewis, Wash., will deploy approximately 4,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in mid-summer 2009. This Stryker Brigade and the MEB will deploy to increase the capabilities of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Approximately 5,000 additional troops to support these combat forces will receive deployment orders at a...

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2008 – Coalition forces captured suspected terrorists and seized weapons caches throughout Iraq over the past two days. In Baghdad today, troops captured an alleged associate of an al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader responsible for terrorist propaganda. The suspect is also believed to be involved in propaganda activities and connected to various other associates of the terrorist network in Baghdad. Troops detained seven suspected other suspected terrorists at the same time location. In northern Iraq today, Coalition forces detained five suspects during two separate operations. In Mosul, Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists while targeting an...

Emotional ceremony officially welcomes Stryker soldiers home The soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division got their formal welcome home Thursday at Fort Lewis in an emotional ceremony that saw dozens of their wounded rejoin the ranks, and seven of their heroes decorated for valor – one of them posthumously. “I am as proud of these soldiers in front of you as anything I’ve been associated with in my life,” their commander, Col. Stephen Townsend, told several thousand friends and family members who attended Thursday’s celebration at Gray Army Airfield.“I know you all are just as proud of them.”Nearly...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -   Dallas native Staff Sgt. Reynaldo Torres gets a signed picture from cheerleaders of his hometown football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Six cheerleaders dropped by Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad for a meet-and-greet session, Sept. 15. Six members of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad stopped at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad to sign autographs and visit with Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Sept. 15.   

Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan (right), chats with Lt. Col. Dean Dunham, deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, during a visit to the Al Madain Joint Security Station in the Zafaraniyah section of eastern Baghdad Aug. 18. Levin, along with Virginia Sen. John Warner, visited leaders of the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment and the 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division to get a first-hand account of how the surge is progressing. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. W. Wayne Marlow, 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs) Sen. John Warner of Virginia...

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — It was 3 o’clock on a January morning when a convoy of Stryker vehicles rolled out of this protected American base near the main Baghdad airport. The discovery of 27 bodies on a part of Haifa Street, a meandering road that also goes through the Green Zone or, as it is now called, International Zone, meant it was time to help the Iraqis take back what has been called one of Baghdad’s meanest and toughest areas, a place, according to news reports, even henchmen of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein avoided. Sgt. Holly Jensen of the...

U.S. Makes Imporbable Ally in Iraq By LAUREN FRAYER Associated Press Writer BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) - Two months ago, a dozen Sunni insurgents - haggard, hungry and in handcuffs - stepped tentatively into a U.S.-Iraqi combat outpost near Baqouba and asked to speak to the commander: "We're out of ammunition, but we want to help you fight al-Qaida." Now hundreds of fighters from the 1920s Revolution Brigades, an erstwhile Sunni insurgent group, work as scouts and gather intelligence for the 10,000-strong American force in the fifth day of its mission to remove al-Qaida gunmen and bomb makers from the Diyala...

FORT CARSON, Colo. (Army News Service, Aug. 15, 2005) -- Over the past couple of weeks Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division have left Iraq and been welcomed to Fort Carson with open arms. A handful were also welcomed to the Denver Broncos’ training camp. The Soldiers stood on the sidelines in awe as they watched some of the NFL’s superstars workout during a Monday-morning practice in Englewood where they were hosted by the team’s quarterback, Jake Plummer. The Soldiers were able to enjoy unobstructed views of the practice as they were treated to VIP services. When the...

Trio of 2nd ID soldiers killed in Iraq firefight South Korea-based unit has suffered 68 casualties in Iraq Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Sunday, June 26, 2005 SEOUL — Three 2nd Infantry Division soldiers were killed in Iraq on Tuesday, according to the Defense Department. Spc. Nicholas R. Idalski, 23, of Crown Point, Ind.; Spc. Christopher L. Hoskins, 21, of Danielson, Conn.; and Spc. Brian A. Vaughn, 23, of Pell City, Ala.; were killed by enemy small-arms fire during combat in Ramadi. They were assigned to the Army’s 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division,...

Friday, August 20, 2004 2nd ID vehicles are upgraded to survive rough traveling in Iraq By Seth Robson, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Friday, August 20, 2004 Seth Robson / S&S A 2nd Infantry Division Humvee from South Korea has new armored doors and windows and an air conditioner unit installed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Seth Robson / S&S Pfc. Mark Greene of the 699th Maintenance Company, 21, of North Carolina works on an armored door at the Camp Buehring "Mad Max" shop. CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — Soft-shelled 2nd Infantry Division vehicles are getting a Middle East makeover that includes armor,...

Military equipment staged at Pier 8, Pusan, Korea, awaits movement to Southwest Asia. Army moving equipment from Korea to Iraq By Maj. Terry DraperAugust 4, 2004 PUSAN, Korea (Army News Service, Aug. 4, 2004) -- The Army has begun moving equipment from the 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade in Korea for duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two vessels were loaded simultaneously during the last week in July by transporters with the 837th Transportation Battalion, in Pusan, Korea. As part of the deployment, the 837th transporters also loaded 80 containers in Chinhae aboard a third ship. The loading was assisted...

Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Iraqi-Americans help 2nd ID troops prepare for Iraq’s culture By Seth Robson, Stars and StripesPacific edition, Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Seth Robson / S&S Iraqi role players, who met 2nd ID commander Maj. Gen. John R. Wood at Camp Casey last week, said they now have a better grasp of soldiers' lives. Seth Robson / S&S Iraqi role players interact with Lt. Col. Joseph Southcott, commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Hovey during training. Seth Robson / S&S Iraqi role players, who met 2nd ID commander Maj. Gen. John R. Wood at Camp...

The Washington Times www.washingtontimes.com Transfers 'ready to fight' in IraqBy Bill GertzTHE WASHINGTON TIMESPublished August 1, 2004 SEOUL -- The commander of U.S. soldiers leaving here for Iraq says they are "ready to fight" insurgents and terrorists despite their initial training for a far different mission in a far different place.     The 3,600 soldiers will leave bases in South Korea, within range of 12,000 North Korean artillery pieces a few miles north of the tense border, and head for the harsh heat and deadly roadside and suicide bombs in and around Baghdad.     His troops are "confident and very sober"...

RODRIGUEZ RANGE, South Korea — 2nd Infantry Division combat arms units are training to go on the offensive if their convoys are attacked in Iraq, says Col. Gary S. Patton, commander of the division’s Iraq-bound 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Patton and others were at Rodriguez Range Friday to observe platoons doing combat convoy live-fire exercises that train soldiers to use aggressive tactics in response to any challenge from the enemy. “It is all about developing an offensive mind-set. We are treating every mission as a combat operation and every threat along the road as a threat we are going to...

Camp Casey's 2nd ID sees surge of post-traumatic stress disorder By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Tuesday, June 15, 2004 CAMP CASEY, South Korea — The 2nd Infantry Division is experiencing a surge in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among soldiers who rotated here from assignments in Iraq or Afghanistan, says a senior health official. Division psychologist Capt. Mary Dorritie said that although most of the combat-related PTSD cases she treats haven’t been severe, they are the bulk of her caseload; she treats from 10 to 15 soldiers suffering from the condition. Last year, in contrast, virtually all PTSD...

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division recently detained three members of an undisclosed media outlet. They took them back to their encampment and asked them several hours of questions regarding a recent roadside bombing that took place near Mosul. This type of Draconian military behavior should have spawned days of accusatory headlines in 80 font type. Seymour Hersh should have donned the tin-foil hat weeks ago and told us the story behind the story. This should dominate the antiwar outlets of the US media. This time, that isn't going to happen. Why no outrage? The reason is simple....

NEWS CREW IN IRAQ TIPPED OFF TO LOCATION OF ROADSIDE BOMB DID NOT RELAY INFORMATION TO COALITION CONVOY MOSUL, Iraq - Coalition soldiers questioned two news media cameramen and a reporter after a roadside bomb exploded near a Coalition convoy two kilometers north of Mosul June 3. The media, who were at the scene prior to the attack, told soldiers at the scene they had received a tip to be at that location prior to the attack and they had witnessed the explosion. There was minimal damage to a Coalition vehicle, a cracked windshield, and no serious injuries. 3rd Brigade,...

NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 3, 2004 Release Number: 04-06-09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COALITION SOLDIERS QUESTION NEWS MEDIA FOLLOWING ROADSIDE BOMB MOSUL, Iraq - Coalition soldiers questioned two news media cameramen and a reporter after a roadside bomb exploded near a Coalition convoy two kilometers north of Mosul June 3. The media, who were at the scene prior to the attack, told soldiers at the scene they had received a tip to be at that location prior to the attack...

2nd ID troops speak of hopes, fears following Pentagon's announcement By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Saturday, May 22, 2004 Seth Robson / S&S Soldiers from the 102nd Military Intelligence Battalion train in South Korea on Thursday. Seth Robson / S&S Pfc. Jose Perez says he's not looking forward to deploying to Iraq from South Korea. TONGDUCHON, South Korea — Some 2nd Infantry Division soldiers on their way to Iraq later this summer say they were surprised to hear the news and upset when they learned about the deployment via media reports. On Monday, South Korean officials announced...

by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson May 21, 2004 A Soldier provides security with a 50 caliber machine gun in Mosul, Iraq. He is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.

  Troop Rotation to Iraq Continues, Units Assuming Control By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 – The largest rotation of U.S. forces since World War II continues in Iraq, Defense Department officials said today. In all more than 250,000 U.S. service members are affected. Planning for the rotation began months ago. New units worked with units in Iraq to learn their new missions and to plan the movement. In December, new units began flowing into the region, and in January, they began the relief-in-place process. Officials expect the rotation to continue through May, when 110,000 U.S....

Brigade Becomes First to Receive Indianhead Combat PatchSsince Korean War MOSUL, Iraq - All across northern Iraq, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) stepped forward to be recognized for their service to Operation Iraqi Freedom in ceremonies held over the past two weeks. The men and women of the Arrowhead Brigade received their combat patches, and infantrymen and medics in the unit were awarded with Combat Infantrymen Badges and Combat Medic Badges. Everyone who served in the brigade or attached to the brigade since they entered Iraq is eligible for the patch, according Maj....

HAMAM AL ALIL, Iraq — Two weeks after Pvt. Seth Tribble was wounded by a grenade in the northern Iraqi town of Gab Adr, his buddies went back to send a message to his attackers. The 2nd Infantry Division’s Company B, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment marched into Gab Adr on Sunday along the newly named Phase Line Tribble, which runs past the place where the grenade attack occurred. Soldiers raided several nearby houses searching for weapons and terrorists, but there was no all-out attack by anti-coalition forces that informants had warned would happen the next time Company B entered...

HAMAM AL ALIL, Iraq — One town is home to terrorists, the other is full of criminals. In the middle are the Strykers and soldiers from 2nd Infantry Division’s Company B, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment. It’s their job to keep the peace in one of northern Iraq’s most volatile battlegrounds. While the leaders of Task Force Olympia and the 3rd Stryker Brigade live in comparative luxury in one of Saddam Hussein’s sprawling palace complexes in Mosul, Company B troops find shelter from rocket attacks and sporadic gunfire in muddy hooches at Firebase Aggie on the edge of Hamam Al...

SEOUL – The U.S. military has asked South Korea to ban lap dancing and other lewd acts at local nightclubs near its bases, saying they negatively impact military discipline. The officials said the military was taking similar steps at other bases in the United States and overseas against lap dancing. The U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division, which has 15,000 troops near the border with North Korea, recently sent letters to the South Korean Special Tourist Association and local mayors urging a crack down on lap dancing clubs near barracks. Describing "client-focused exotic dancing" as the principal cause of worsening military...

Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division -- Stryker Brigade Combat Team -- detained people suspected of anti-coalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Feb. 1. The unit is under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, conducted a cordon-and-knock operation in Mosul and detained four people associated with anti-coalition activities, including one target suspected of involvement in planning attacks on coalition forces. Members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq, turned in 13 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, seven boosters,...

By Seth RobsonStars and Stripes Pacific Edition CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - The 2nd Infantry Division wants lap dancing banned in Area I nightclubs frequented by U.S. soldiers, according to documents to be presented this week to the Korean Special Tourist Association and local mayors. Club owners and mayors will have 30 days to respond to a proposed association and 2nd ID Good Commerce Practices Guide, which sets out standards expected of clubs near U.S. bases in Area I. Last year lap dancing was explicitly authorized in an attachment to the 2nd ID's 2002-2003 policy. The proposed guide states:...

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - The 2nd Infantry Division wants lap dancing banned in Area I nightclubs frequented by U.S. soldiers, according to documents to be presented this week to the Korean Special Tourist Association and local mayors. Club owners and mayors will have 30 days to respond to a proposed association and 2nd ID Good Commerce Practices Guide, which sets out standards expected of clubs near U.S. bases in Area I. Last year lap dancing was explicitly authorized in an attachment to the 2nd ID's 2002-2003 policy. The proposed guide states: "Though lap dancing is authorized under 2nd...

  101st Transfers Authority To 2nd Infantry Division MOSUL, Iraq – On what was described as a bittersweet day for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the soldiers of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division formally relieved 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division of its responsibilities in the western Nineveh province.The ceremony marked the first turnover from the 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) to the Arrowhead Brigade. Soldiers from both units gathered at a forward operating base west of Mosul where the Rakkasans of 3rd Brigade cased their unit colors as the Warhorse squadron unfurled theirs for...

US troops to shift from S. Korea By Richard Halloran The United States will reassign some troops from South Korea to Afghanistan and Iraq and shift most of the 7,000 people in its headquarters in Seoul out of the capital beginning within a year, military officials say. Thought also is being given to disbanding the United Nations headquarters in South Korea and ending the practice of keeping a four-star general in command of operations in the country. The moves are part of a gradual disengagement of U.S. land forces from Korea and a greater reliance on sea power to maintain...

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) - About 4,000 members of the Army's first Stryker brigade got their formal farewell Thursday before they ship out next week for a yearlong mission in Iraq. "A year from now we'll probably return to Fort Lewis knowing that Iraq is a better place because of our time there," Col. Michael E. Rounds, the brigade commander, told the troops and their friends and relatives during a 60-minute departure ceremony. The brigade is built around the Stryker, the Army's first new combat vehicle in 20 years, which can carry as many as 11 soldiers. The brigade's 300...

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...

SEOUL, South Korea — Washington's request that South Korea dispatch thousands of infantry troops to Iraq has sparked a new round of anti-American protests in Seoul. The controversy erupted after Seoul officials acknowledged that the United States has requested the deployment of a "light infantry division" consisting of between 2,000 and 10,000 combat soldiers to Iraq. Hundreds of anti-U.S. activists staged a rally in central Seoul Tuesday to oppose any further role for South Korean troops in Iraq. In May, South Korea dispatched about 675 army engineers and medics to assist the U.S.-led rehabilitation of post-war Iraq. Sending troops to...

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) - A whisper of cool, mountain air slips through an open window in Col. Michael Rounds' office at this quiet Army post in the shadow of the Cascades. The setting could hardly be more unlike what Rounds' soldiers will face shortly in hot and chaotic Iraq. Rounds commands a newly formed Stryker brigade combat team - the first of its kind, intended as a model for the Army of the future, and scheduled to make its combat debut in Iraq within two months. ``The brigade is ready to go,'' Rounds said in an interview. Rounds' unit,...