U.S. to Dispatch Rapidly Deployable Brigade to Iraq in October

The first rapidly deployable Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) of the U.S. army’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, will be coming to Korea next month for its first overseas military training, later to be dispatched in Iraq in October, sources said.

The platoon will carry out live-fire exercises in a northern area of Gyeonggi Province for ten days early next month in preparation for before being dispatched to Iraq.

The U.S. army is seeking to gain permission from Congress to allow the 3rd brigade, 2nd division, which is based in Fort Lewis, Washington, to be dispatched to Iraq for six months from October, an official of the U.S. Forces in Korea said Tuesday.

“Military authorities are actively considering rotation plans that would replace the 3rd Infantry Division and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, which have long been deployed in Iraq with the 3rd brigade,” the official said. “The dispatch would be affect all of its 3,600 troops and various light armored vehicles.”

The missions of the SBCT have not yet been confirmed, but experts believe that the SBCT will be deployed to Iraq for its quick combat capability, it`s greatest strength, and to concentrate on guerrilla attacks and peace keeping activities.

The U.S. is creating a total of six SBCTs in Hawaii and Fort Lewis, with the platoon from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which just completed its formation last month, to participate in live-fire exercises that are to take place at the shooting range in Youngpyung, Pocheon, Gyeonggi. One SBCT is comprised of 4 infantry and armored battalions and about 300 stryker vehicles, including high-performance light armored vehicles, combat vehicles which can launch Howitzers, TOW anti-tank missiles, reconnaissance vehicles for nuclear and chemical materials, and mechanic vehicles.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com