Varying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about the actual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Last year, a major announcement on a surge in troop deployments to Iraq by President Bush included a planned gradual increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province over several months. Since the "new strategy for Iraq" speech by the President in January 2007, troop deployments gradually increased during the months of February through October 2007 but decreased beginning in November 2007. This report provides solely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces serving in Iraq. It also provides brief official information on the military units schedule for the next rotation of duty into Iraq

O'Bryan, JoAnne

Waterhouse, Michael

UNT Digital Library

1 DOD Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, December 14, 2007.Order Code RS22449Updated May 8, 2008U.S. Forces in IraqJoAnne O’Bryant and Michael WaterhouseInformation Research SpecialistsKnowledge Services GroupSummaryVarying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about theactual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  Interest in trooplevel deployments continue in 2008.  Last year, a major announcement on a surge introop deployments to Iraq by President Bush included a planned gradual increase ofmore than 20,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province overseveral months.  Since the “new strategy for Iraq” speech by the President on January10, 2007, troop deployments gradually increased during the months of February throughOctober in 2007 but decreased beginning in November 2007.  This report providessolely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces serving inIraq.  It also provides brief official information on the military units scheduled for thenext rotation of duty into Iraq.  As of April 1, 2008, according to DOD, the UnitedStates had 162,400 troops stationed in Iraq — 134,500 active component and 27,900National Guard or Reserves.  For security reasons, DOD does not routinely report thecomposition, size, or specific destination of military forces deployed to the Persian Gulf.This report will be updated upon receipt of new DOD data.  For additional informationon U.S. forces, see RL34387, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Resultsand Issues for Congress, by Catherine Dale.  Force LevelsAs of April 1, 2008, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), the UnitedStates had 162,400 military personnel deployed in Iraq.  Of these, 134,500 were activecomponent personnel and 27,900 were National Guard and Reserves.  Figures 1 and 2provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel.  These totals donot include 23,000 military support personnel in Kuwait, or naval personnel aboard shipspatrolling through the Persian Gulf.1Amid concerns about U.S. troop levels, in a January 10, 2007 address to the nation,President Bush announced an increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troops to be deployed toIraq as part of a new initiative in ongoing efforts to stabilize the security situation.  AsCRS-22 American Forces Press Service, Gates Extends Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months, April 11,2007.announced, these forces were to be primarily  deployed to Baghdad and Anbar province,the major current areas of unrest and conflict in Iraq.  These additional force levels wereoriginally to be accomplished primarily by a stepped-up pace of military unit rotationsinto Iraq and a delay for some personnel departures from that country. However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on April 11, 2007, that allactive-duty Army personnel in the U.S. Central Command area would serve 15-monthtours in the region, up from the previous 12-month tour rotations.2  Since the speech ontroop deployments by President Bush and the announcement by Secretary Gates, a gradualincrease in troop deployments in Iraq occurred between February through October 2007but troop levels decreased beginning in November 2007.  Current active duty levels,however, are still higher than reported before the surge announcement by President Bush.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.97,0009,000 5,50023,000020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000Army Air Force Navy MarineCorpsFigure 1.  Active Component Personnel in Iraq(as of April 1, 2008)CRS-3Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Comparative Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Force Levels.  Overall U.S.force levels in Iraq declined from November 2005 to January 2007, particularly theReserve Component. After a slight increase in February 2007, the surge built up trooplevels through October 2007. Based on DOD statistics, Figures 3 through 6 providecomparative data on both active and reserve component force levels, including month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons of U.S. troops in Iraq.  DOD officials have declinedto project the timing or size of future force reductions, stating these will depend upon thesecurity situation within Iraq.Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joint Chief Staff, "Boots on Ground" data.3,3001,3001,0005,40090016,0000 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500 15,000 17,500Marines RvNavy RvAir RvArmy RvAir NGArmy NGFigure 2.  Reserve Component Personnel in Iraq(as of April 1, 2008)80,84097,0003,998 5,500 9,611 9,00025,27923,000010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000100,000Army Navy AF MCApr-07 Apr-08Figure 3.  OIF Active Component Force Levels (April 2007/April 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, January 1, 2007,through December 1, 2007.14,90716,0001,090 9005,9125,400504 1,000 7511,3001,5943,30002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,000Army NG Air NG Army Rv Air Rv Navy Rv Marines RvApr-07 Apr-08Figure 4.  OIF Reserve Component Force Levels (April 2007/April 2008)128,569134,754137,976144,486144,202150,336156,247157,674165,607167,353164,424161,783020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07Figure 5.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (January 2007/December 2007)CRS-5Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations.  On December 3, 2007, DODannounced its latest scheduled troop deployments for unit rotations to Iraq in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  These planned 2009 Army National Guard unitdeployments to Iraq supplement earlier  announcements involving 2008 Army or MarineCorps units. These rotations are summarized in Table 1 below.Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom: 2008 and 2009 Rotational UnitsMilitary Unit Home Military Base  Rotation to Iraq Army3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Fort Carson, CO  Early 200810th Mountain Division,HeadquartersFort Drum, NY  Spring 2008Marine Corps1st  Marine Expeditionary Force  HeadquartersCamp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 1 Camp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 5 Camp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008134,754137,365158,400120,000130,000140,000150,000160,000170,000Feb 2006 Feb 2007 Feb 2008Figure 6.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (Years 2006, 2007, 2008)CRS-6Military Unit Home Military Base  Rotation to Iraq Army National Guard4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Fort Hood, TX Summer 200830th Heavy Brigade Combat Team,North Carolina National GuardClinton, NC Summer 200856th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,28th Infantry Division, PennsylvaniaNational GuardPhiladelphia, PA Summer 200856th Brigade Combat Team, 36thInfantry Division, Texas NationalGuardFort Worth, TX Summer 200829th Brigade Combat Team, HawaiiNational GuardKalaeloa, HI Summer 200881st Brigade Combat Team,Washington National GuardSeattle, WA Summer 200845th Fires Brigade, OklahomaNational GuardEnid, OK Summer 200850th Brigade Combat Team, NewJersey National GuardLawrenceville, NJ Summer 200832nd Brigade Combat Team,Wisconsin National GuardMadison, WI Summer 200941st Brigade Combat Team, OregonNational GuardTigard, OR Summer 2009155th Brigade Combat Team,Mississippi National GuardLucedale, MS Summer 2009Source: DOD News Releases July, October, and December 2007. These rotations and extensions of active and reserve component Army tours to 15months would maintain U.S. military capacity at 20 brigade or regimental combat teamson the ground in Iraq. Marine Corps rotations last seven months.  On August 1, 2008,Army active duty and reserve component rotations are to be reduced to 12 months.  Futurepolicy and logistics announcements may change the number of scheduled units assignedto Iraq. 

U.S. Forces in Iraq

This report provides solely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces serving in Iraq. It also provides brief official information on the military units scheduled for the next rotation of duty into Iraq

O'Bryant, JoAnne

1 DOD Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, January 9, 2007.Order Code RS22449Updated September 20, 2007U.S. Forces in IraqJoAnne O’Bryant and Michael WaterhouseInformation Research SpecialistsKnowledge Services GroupSummaryVarying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about theactual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  As interest in trooplevel deployments continue,  President Bush announced “a new strategy for Iraq” onJanuary 10, 2007, including a planned gradual increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troopson the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province over several months. To accomplish thisincrease in part, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on April 11, 2007, thatall active-duty Army personnel in the U.S. Central Command area would now serve 15-month tours in the region, up from the previous 12-month rotations.  This reportprovides solely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forcesserving in Iraq.  It also provides brief official information on the military units scheduledfor the next rotation of duty into Iraq.  As of September 1, 2007, according to DOD, theUnited States had 165,607 troops stationed in Iraq — 144,992 active component and20,615 National Guard or Reserves.  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 RL31701, Iraq: U.S. Military Operations,by Steve Bowman.  Force LevelsAs of September 1, 2007, according to Department of Defense (DOD), the UnitedStates had 165,607 military personnel deployed in Iraq.  Of these, 144,992 were activecomponent personnel and 20,615 were National Guard and Reserves.  Figures 1 and 2provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel.  These totals donot include 12,000 military support personnel in Kuwait, nor naval personnel aboard shipspatrolling through the Persian Gulf.1Amid concerns about U.S. troop levels, in a January 10, 2007 address to the nation,President Bush announced an increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troops to be deployed toCRS-22 American Forces Press Service, Gates Extends Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months, April 11,2007.Iraq during the next several months as part of a new initiative in ongoing efforts tostabilize the security situation.  As announced, these forces were to be primarily  deployedto Baghdad and Anbar province, the major current areas of unrest and conflict in Iraq.These additional force levels were originally to be accomplished primarily by a stepped-up pace of military unit rotations into Iraq and a delay for some personnel departures fromthat country. However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on April 11, 2007,that all active-duty Army personnel in the U.S. Central Command area would serve 15-month tours in the region effective immediately, up from the previous 12-month tourrotations.2 These forces were to be gradually  added to the personnel stationed in Iraq, asreported by DOD on January 1, 2007.  Additional deployment information is availablefrom DOD’s Directorate for Information Operations, which posts quarterly reports oncasualties and worldwide active-duty military personnel deployments by region andcountry. [http://siadapp.dior.whs.mil/personnel/MILITARY/Miltop.htm]Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.103,52010,9224,21926,331020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000Army Air Force Navy MarineCorpsFigure 1. Active Component Personnel in Iraq (as of September 1, 2007)CRS-3Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Comparative Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Force Levels.  Overall U.S.force levels in Iraq declined from November 2005 to February 2007, particularly theReserve Component. After a slight increase in March 2007, the surge built up troop levelsthrough September 2007. Based on DOD statistics, Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 providecomparative data on both active and reserve component force levels.  DOD officials havedeclined to project the timing or size of future force reductions, stating these will dependupon the security situation within Iraq.Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.2016695926,54498411,625- 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000Marines RvNavy RvAir RvArmy RvAir NGArmy NGFigure 2.  Reserve Component Personnel in Iraq (as of September 1, 2007)75,472103,5202,858 4,2198,906 10,92223,51426,331020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000Army Navy AF MCFeb-06 Sep-07Figure 3.  OIF Active Component Force Levels (Feb 2006/Sept 2007)CRS-4Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data, November 1, 2005 throughJanuary 1, 2007.16,89811,6251,212 9845,9816,544261 592 655 6291,60820102,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,000Army NG Air NG Army Rv AF Rv Navy Rv Marine RvFeb-06 Sep-07Figure 4.  OIF Reserve Component Force Levels (Feb 2006/Sept 2007)157,982137,365130,231 128,789 131,057139,421147,796133,718020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000Nov2005Feb2006May2006Jun2006Aug2006Oct2006Nov2006Dec2006Figure 5.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (Nov 2005-Dec 2006)CRS-5Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chief of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data, January 1, 2007through September 1, 2007.Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations.  On July 31, 2007, DODannounced its latest scheduled troop deployment and adjustments for unit rotations to Iraqin support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  These  late 2007 to early 2008 scheduleddeployments to Iraq involve three Army brigades or Marine Corps regimental combatteams and one Marine expeditionary force headquarters unit. These rotations are notdirectly tied to the surge in Iraq and are summarized in Table 1 below.128,569134,754137,976144,486144,202150,336156,247157,674165,607020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07Figure 6.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (Jan 2007-Sept 2007)157,982147,796165,607050,000100,000150,000200,000Nov 2005 Nov 2006 Sep 2007Figure 7.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (Years 2005, 2006, and 2007)CRS-6Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom Late 2007 Early 2008 Rotational UnitsMilitary Unit Home Military Base  Rotation to Iraq Army3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Fort Carson, CO Late 2007 or Early 2008Marine Corps1 Marine Expeditionary Force  HeadquartersCamp Pendleton, CA Late 2007 or Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 1 Camp Pendleton, CA Late 2007 or Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 5 Camp Pendleton, CA Late 2007 or Early 2008Source: DOD News Release July, 2007. These rotations and extensions of active duty Army tours to 15 months will maintainU.S. military capacity at 20 brigade or regimental combat teams on the ground in Iraq.

1 DOD Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, December 14, 2007.Order Code RS22449Updated July 24, 2008U.S. Forces in IraqJoAnne O’Bryant and Michael WaterhouseInformation Research SpecialistsKnowledge Services GroupSummaryVarying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about theactual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  Interest in trooplevel deployments continues in 2008.  Last year, a major announcement on a surge introop deployments to Iraq by President Bush included a planned gradual increase ofmore than 20,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province overseveral months.  Since the “new strategy for Iraq” speech by the President on January10, 2007, troop deployments gradually increased during the months of February throughOctober in 2007 but decreased beginning in November 2007.  This report providessolely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces serving inIraq.  It also provides brief official information on the military units scheduled for thenext rotation of duty into Iraq.  As of  June 1, 2008, according to DOD, the United Stateshad 182,060 troops stationed in Iraq — 150,400 active component and 31,660 NationalGuard or Reserves.  For security reasons, DOD does not routinely report thecomposition, size, or specific destination of military forces deployed to the Persian Gulf.This report will be updated upon receipt of new DOD data.  For additional informationon U.S. forces, see RL34387, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Resultsand Issues for Congress, by Catherine Dale.  Force LevelsAs of June 1, 2008, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), the UnitedStates had 182,060 military personnel deployed in Iraq.  Of these, 150,400 were activecomponent personnel and 31,660 were National Guard and Reserves.  Figures 1 and 2provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel.  These totals donot include 23,000 military support personnel in Kuwait, or naval personnel aboard shipspatrolling through the Persian Gulf.1Amid concerns about U.S. troop levels, in a January 10, 2007 address to the nation,President Bush announced an increase of more than 20,000 U.S. troops to be deployed toIraq as part of a new initiative in ongoing efforts to stabilize the security situation.  AsCRS-22 American Forces Press Service, Gates Extends Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months, April 11,2007.announced, these forces were to be primarily  deployed to Baghdad and Anbar province,the major current areas of unrest and conflict in Iraq.  These additional force levels wereoriginally to be accomplished primarily by a stepped-up pace of military unit rotationsinto Iraq and a delay for some personnel departures from that country. However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on April 11, 2007, that allactive-duty Army personnel in the U.S. Central Command area would serve 15-monthtours in the region, up from the previous 12-month tour rotations.2  Since the speech ontroop deployments by President Bush and the announcement by Secretary Gates, a gradualincrease in troop deployments in Iraq occurred between February through October 2007but troop levels decreased beginning in November 2007.  Current active duty levels,however, are still higher than reported before the surge announcement by President Bush.Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.99,60010,80019,800 20,200020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000Army Air Force Navy MarineCorpsFigure 1.  Active Component Personnel in Iraq (as of June 1, 2008)CRS-3Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.Comparative Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Force Levels.  Overall U.S.force levels in Iraq declined from November 2005 to January 2007, particularly theReserve Component. After a slight increase in February 2007, the surge built up trooplevels through October 2007. Based on DOD statistics, Figures 3 through 6 providecomparative data on both active and reserve component force levels, including month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons of U.S. troops in Iraq.  DOD officials have declinedto project the timing or size of future force reductions, stating these will depend upon thesecurity situation within Iraq.Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joint Chief Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.2,3102,1001,0506,7001,20018,3000 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000Marines RvNavy RvAir RvArmy RvAir NGArmy NGFigure 2.  Reserve Component Personnel in Iraq(as of June 1, 2008)90,65499,6003,83719,80010,459 10,80022,204 20,200010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000100,000Army Navy AF MCJun-07 Jun-08Figure 3.  OIF Active Component Force Levels(June 2007/June 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, January 1, 2007,through December 1, 2007.13,63918,3001,0871,2006,826 6,7007171,0507132,1002002,31002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,000Army NG Air NG Army Rv Air Rv Navy Rv Marines RvJun-07 Jun-08Figure 4. OIF Reserve Component Force Levels(June 2007/June 2008)128,569134,754137,976144,486144,202150,336156,247157,674165,607167,353164,424161,783020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07Figure 5.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq (January 2007/December 2007)CRS-5Source: 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.Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations.  On December 3, 2007, DODannounced its latest scheduled troop deployments for unit rotations to Iraq in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  These planned 2009 Army National Guard unitdeployments to Iraq supplement earlier  announcements involving 2008 Army or MarineCorps units. These rotations are summarized in Table 1 below. These rotations andextensions of active and reserve component Army tours to 15 months would maintain U.S.military capacity at 20 brigade or regimental combat teams on the ground in Iraq. MarineCorps rotations last seven months.  On August 1, 2008, Army active duty and reservecomponent rotations are to be reduced to 12 months.  Future policy and logisticsannouncements may change the number of scheduled units assigned to Iraq. 155,846 158,400 159,700 162,400197,850182,060050,000100,000150,000200,000250,000Jan Feb Mar Apr May JunFigure 6.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq(January 2008 - June 2008)150,336182,060128,798-20,00040,00060,00080,000100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000200,000June 2006 June 2007 June 2008Figure 7.  Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq(Years 2006, 2007, 2008)CRS-6Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom: 2008 and 2009 Rotational UnitsMilitary Unit Home Military Base  Rotation to Iraq Army3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Fort Carson, CO  Early 200810th Mountain Division,HeadquartersFort Drum, NY  Spring 2008Marine Corps1st  Marine Expeditionary Force  HeadquartersCamp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 1 Camp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008Regimental Combat Team 5 Camp Pendleton, CA  Early 2008Army National Guard4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Fort Hood, TX Summer 200830th Heavy Brigade Combat Team,North Carolina National GuardClinton, NC Summer 200856th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,28th Infantry Division, PennsylvaniaNational GuardPhiladelphia, PA Summer 200856th Brigade Combat Team, 36thInfantry Division, Texas NationalGuardFort Worth, TX Summer 200829th Brigade Combat Team, HawaiiNational GuardKalaeloa, HI Summer 200881st Brigade Combat Team,Washington National GuardSeattle, WA Summer 200845th Fires Brigade, OklahomaNational GuardEnid, OK Summer 200850th Brigade Combat Team, NewJersey National GuardLawrenceville, NJ Summer 200832nd Brigade Combat Team,Wisconsin National GuardMadison, WI Summer 200941st Brigade Combat Team, OregonNational GuardTigard, OR Summer 2009155th Brigade Combat Team,Mississippi National GuardLucedale, MS Summer 2009Source: DOD News Releases July, October, and December 2007.  

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U.S. Forces in Iraq

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