Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the new forces would be among
seven brigade-size elements also heading for Afghanistan and Kuwait. Whitman
said AABs would support the State Department’s provincial reconstruction
teams.
"In addition to standard combat training, they will undergo
scenario-based training and mission-readiness exercises designed to prepare
them for the complex challenges they will encounter in
Iraq," the Pentagon said.
At the same time, three traditionally-configured combat brigades would
be sent to Iraq in the fall of 2009 to replace redeploying brigades. Whitman
said the rotation would not result in a U.S. military presence of more than
128,000 troops in Iraq.
"Plans remain on track to maintain those levels through the Iraqi
elections, and then to gradually draw down the force to between 30,000 and
50,000 by Aug. 31, 2010," Whitman said.
The U.S. Army rotation would also include Kuwait, officials said. About
15,000 U.S. soldiers were said to be serving in Kuwait, conducting training,
maintenance and base security missions.
