As interest in troop level deployments continues, there remains an increase of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. This report provides official Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces now serving in Afghanistan with comparisons to earlier force levels. It also provides brief official information on the military units extended or schedule for the next rotation of duty into Afghanistan

O'Bryant, JoAnne

Waterhouse, Michael

UNT Digital Library

Order Code RS22633Updated July 15, 2008U.S. Forces in AfghanistanJoAnne O’Bryant and Michael WaterhouseInformation Research SpecialistsKnowledge Services GroupSummaryAs interest in troop level deployments continues, there remains an increase of U.S.forces in Afghanistan. President Bush announced in a February 15, 2007 speech, theAdministration’s plans for an increase in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, including a plannedgradual increase of 3,200 U.S. troops on the ground.  Since the President’sannouncement, there were higher troop deployment levels reported in Afghanistan in2007 and 2008.  This report provides official Department of Defense (DOD) statisticalinformation on U.S. forces now serving in Afghanistan with comparisons to earlier forcelevels. It also provides brief official information on the military units extended orscheduled for the next rotation of duty into Afghanistan.  As of June 1, 2008, accordingto DOD, the United States had 48,250 troops stationed in Afghanistan — 37,700 activecomponent and 10,550 National Guard or Reserves.  They are serving in two missions— a NATO-led peacekeeping mission and a separate U.S.-led combat effort calledOperation Enduring Freedom (OEF). For security reasons, DOD does not routinelyreport the composition, size, or specific destination of military forces deployed to thePersian Gulf.  This report will be updated upon receipt of new DOD data.  For additionalinformation on U.S. forces, see CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-WarGovernance, Security and U.S. Policy by Kenneth Katzman, and CRS Report RL33503,U.S. and Coalition Military Operations in Afghanistan: Issues for Congress, by AndrewFeickert.Force LevelsAs of June 1, 2008, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), the UnitedStates had 48,250 military personnel deployed in Afghanistan.  Of these, 37,700 wereactive component personnel and10,550 were National Guard and Reserves.  Figures 1and 2 provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel.  TheseCRS-21 DOD Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, December 14, 2007.totals do not include 23,000 military support personnel in Kuwait, or naval personnelaboard ships patrolling through the Persian Gulf.1Amid concerns about U.S. troop levels, in a February 15, 2007 speech, PresidentBush announced an extension of deployment for more than 3,200 U.S. troops inAfghanistan as part of a new initiative in ongoing efforts to stabilize the security situationand to confront a resurgent Taliban.  Since the speech on troop deployments by PresidentBush, the number of troops to Afghanistan fluctuated between February throughNovember 2007.  However, there has been a steady increase in troop deployments toAfghanistan since December 2007.  Additional deployment information is available fromDOD’s Directorate for Information Operations, which posts quarterly reports on casualtiesand worldwide active duty military personnel deployments by region and country onlineat [http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/Miltop.htm].Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data. 18,40013,4002,2003,70002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,000Army Air Force Navy Marine CorpsFigure 1.  Active Component Personnel in Afghanistan (as of June 1, 2008)CRS-32 “Pentagon Considers Adding Forces in Afghanistan to Make Up for NATO Shortfall,” NewYork Times, May 3, 2008, p.A5.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, "Boots on Ground" data.Comparative U.S. Force Levels.  Overall U.S. force levels in Afghanistan havebeen increasing since 2006, in both active duty and the reserve components.  Based onDOD statistics, Figures 3 through 6 provide comparative data on both active and reservecomponent force levels. Data in the figures below include month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  Senior Bush Administration officialsreportedly stated that DOD is considering sending up to 7,000 additional U.S. troops toAfghanistan in 2009 in response to a projected shortfall of NATO forces from othercountries.2  Of the current forces shown, about 60% of U.S. personnel serve in the NATO-led peacekeeping  force called the “International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),” andthe remainder continue to serve under direct U.S. command in counter-terrorism combatmissions and Afghan security forces training.  This mission is called Operation EnduringFreedom (OEF). The U.S. forces under NATO command have served in that capacitysince October 2006, when NATO/ISAF took over peacekeeping responsibility for all ofAfghanistan.3003501,1001,5002,1005,2000 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000Marine RvNavy RvAir RvArmy RvAir NGArmy NGFigure 2.  Reserve Component Personnel in Afghanistan (as of June 1, 2008)CRS-4Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.18,035 18,4009372,2003,66913,4003133,70005,00010,00015,00020,000Army Navy AF MCJun-07 Jun-08Figure 3.  Comparative OEF Active Component Force Levels(June 2007/June 2008)1,8315,2008372,1005901,5002171,100473504 30001,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Army NG Air NG Army Rv Air Rv Navy Rv Marine RvJun-07 Jun-08Figure 4.  Comparative OEF Reserve Component Force Levels (June 2007/June 2008)CRS-5Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data,  January 1, 2007,through December 1, 2007.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data,  January 1, 2008,through June 1, 2008.20,94725,87624,84524,31024,06026,48023,88124,00824,05624,61524,47424,78005,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,000Jan-07Feb-07Mar-07Apr-07May-07Jun-07Jul-07Aug-07Sep-07Oct-07Nov-07Dec-07Figure 5.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Afghanistan (January 2007 - December 2007)26,607 28,050 28,65033,00049,000 48,250010,00020,00030,00040,00050,000Jan-08Feb-08Mar-08Apr-08May-08Jun-08Figure 6.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Afghanistan(January 2008 - June 2008)CRS-6Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.U.S. Troop Rotations for Afghanistan.  On October 19, 2007, January 15, andMarch 14, 2008, DOD announced its latest scheduled troop deployment adjustments andschedule for rotations to Afghanistan in conjunction with the two missions under whichthey serve.  This 2008 schedule for the affected regular Army, National Guard, andMarine Corps units is summarized in Table 1 below.  Rotations to Afghanistan for Armyand National Guard units currently last for 15 months, but are to be reduced to 12 monthsbeginning August 1, 2008.  Rotations for Marine Corps units last seven months.Table 1. Operation Enduring Freedom Rotational UnitsMilitary Unit Home Military Base  2008 Transitions Army and Army National Guard27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,Army National GuardSyracuse, NY Early to Mid 200833rd Brigade Combat Team, IllinoisArmy National GuardUrbana, IL Late 20083rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Fort Hood, TX Late Summer, 2008 Marines24th Marine Expeditionary Unit  (MEU) Camp Lejeune, NC Spring 2008Source: Department of Defense News Releases October 19, 2007, January 15, and March 14, 2008.26,48048,25024,00025,00026,00027,00028,00029,00030,000June 2007 June 2008Figure 7.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Afghanistan (Years 2007 and 2008)

U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

1 DOD Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, December 14, 2007.Order Code RS22633Updated May 9, 2008U.S. Forces in AfghanistanJoAnne O’Bryant and Michael WaterhouseInformation Research SpecialistsKnowledge Services GroupSummaryAs interest in troop level deployments continues, there remains an increase of U.S.forces in Afghanistan.  President Bush announced in a February 15, 2007, speech theAdministration’s plans for an increase in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, including a plannedgradual increase of 3,200 U.S. troops on the ground.  This report provides officialDepartment of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces now serving inAfghanistan with comparisons to earlier force levels. It also provides brief officialinformation on the military units extended or scheduled for the next rotation of duty intoAfghanistan.  As of April 1, 2008, according to DOD, the United States had 33,000troops stationed in Afghanistan — 25,200 active component and 7,800 National Guardor Reserves.  They are serving in two missions — a NATO-led peacekeeping missionand a separate U.S.-led combat effort called Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Forsecurity reasons, DOD does not routinely report the composition, size, or specificdestination of military forces deployed to the Persian Gulf.  This report will be updatedupon receipt of new DOD data.  For additional information on U.S. forces, see CRSReport RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security and U.S. Policy byKenneth Katzman, and CRS Report RL33503, U.S. and Coalition Military Operationsin Afghanistan: Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.Force LevelsAs of April 1, 2008, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), the UnitedStates had 33,000 military personnel deployed in Afghanistan.  Of these, 25,200 wereactive component personnel and 7,800 were National Guard and Reserves.  Figures 1 and2 provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel.  These totalsdo not include 23,000 military support personnel in Kuwait, or naval personnel aboardships patrolling through the Persian Gulf.1CRS-2Amid concerns about U.S. troop levels, in a February 15, 2007 speech, PresidentBush announced an extension of deployment for more than 3,200 U.S. troops inAfghanistan as part of a new initiative in ongoing efforts to stabilize the security situationand to confront a resurgent Taliban.  Since the speech on troop deployments by PresidentBush, the number of troops to Afghanistan fluctuated between February throughNovember 2007.  However, there has been a steady increase in troop deployments toAfghanistan since December 2007.  Additional deployment information is available fromDOD’s Directorate for Information Operations, which posts quarterly reports on casualtiesand worldwide active duty military personnel deployments by region and country onlineat [http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/Miltop.htm].Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.17,7003,2001,500 2,80002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,000Army Air Force Navy Marine CorpsFigure 1.  Active Component Personnel in Afghanistan (as of April 1, 2008)CRS-3Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, "Boots on Ground" data.Comparative U.S. Force Levels.  Overall U.S. force levels in Afghanistan havebeen increasing since 2006, in both active duty and the reserve components.  Based onDOD statistics, Figures 3 through 6 provide comparative data on both active and reservecomponent force levels. Data in the figures below include month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  Senior Bush Administration officialsreportedly stated that DOD is considering sending up to 7,000 additional U.S. troops toAfghanistan in 2009 in response to a projected shortfall of NATO forces from other04003001,3004005,4000 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000Marine RvNavy RvAir RvArmy RvAir NGArmy NGFigure 2.  Reserve Component Personnel in Afghanistan (as ofApril 1, 2008)2,0075,400519400 5091,300231 300 334004 001,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Army NG Air NG Army Rv Air Rv Navy Rv Marine RvApr-07 Apr-08Figure 3.  Comparative OEF Reserve Component Force Levels (April2007/April 2008)CRS-42 “Pentagon Considers Adding Forces in Afghanistan to Make Up for NATO Shortfall,” NewYork Times, May 3, 2008, p.A5.countries.2  Of the current forces shown, about 60% of U.S. personnel serve in the NATO-led peacekeeping  force called the “International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),” andthe remainder continue to serve under direct U.S. command in counter-terrorism combatmissions and Afghan security forces training.  This mission is called Operation EnduringFreedom (OEF). The U.S. forces under NATO command have served in that capacitysince October 2006, when NATO/ISAF took over peacekeeping responsibility for all ofAfghanistan.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data,January 1, 2007, through December 1, 2007.16,29617,700860 1,5003,5083,2003432,80002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,000Army Navy AF MCApr-07 Apr-08Figure 4. Comparative OEF Active Component Force Levels(April 2007/April 2008)20,94725,87624,84524,31024,06026,48023,88124,00824,05624,61524,47424,78005,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,000Jan-07Feb-07Mar-07Apr-07May-07Jun-07Jul-07Aug-07Sep-07Oct-07Nov-07Dec-07Figure 5.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Afghanistan (January 2007 - December 2007)CRS-5Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.U.S. Troop Rotations for Afghanistan.  On October 19, 2007, January 15, andMarch 14, 2008, DOD announced its latest scheduled troop deployment adjustments andschedule for rotations to Afghanistan in conjunction with the two missions under whichthey serve.  This 2008 schedule for the affected regular Army, National Guard, and MarineCorps units is summarized in Table 1 below.  Rotations to Afghanistan for Army andNational Guard units currently last for 15 months, but are to be reduced to 12 monthsbeginning August 1, 2008.  Rotations for Marine Corps units last seven months.Table 1. Operation Enduring Freedom Rotational UnitsMilitary Unit Home Military Base  2008 Transitions Army and Army National Guard27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,Army National GuardSyracuse, NY Early to Mid 200833rd Brigade Combat Team, IllinoisArmy National GuardUrbana, IL Late 20083rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Fort Hood, TX Late Summer, 2008 Marines24th Marine Expeditionary Unit  (MEU) Camp Lejeune, NC Spring 2008Source: Department of Defense News Releases October 19, 2007, January 15, and March 14, 2008.24,31033,00005,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,000April 2007 April 2008Figure 6.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Afghanistan(Years 2007 and 2008)

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U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

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