Order Code RS22449
Updated June 14, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
U.S. Forces in Iraq
JoAnne O’Bryant and Michael Waterhouse
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
Varying media estimates of military forces in Iraq have raised concerns about the
actual number of troops deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). This report
provides solely Department of Defense (DOD) statistical information on U.S. forces
serving in Iraq. As of June 1, 2006, according to DOD, the United States had 128,789
troops stationed in Iraq — 102,709 active component and 26,080 National Guard or
Reserves. For security reasons, DOD does not routinely report the composition, 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 information on U.S. forces,
see CRS Report RL31701, Iraq: U.S. Military Operations, by Steve Bowman.
Force Levels
As of June 1, 2006, according to DOD, the United States had 128,789 military
personnel deployed in Iraq. Of these, 102,709 were active component personnel and
26,080 were National Guard and Reserves. Figures 1 and 2 provide the distribution by
armed service of active component personnel. These totals do not include 16,500 military
support personnel in Kuwait, nor naval personnel aboard ships patrolling through the
Persian Gulf.1
Additional information is available from DOD’s Directorate for Information
Operations, which posts quarterly reports on casualties and worldwide active duty military
personnel deployments by region and country.
[http://siadapp.dior.whs.mil/personnel/MILITARY/Miltop.htm]
1 DOD Sheet Fact, Global Commitments, May 10, 2006.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

CRS-2
Figure 1. Active Component Personnel in Iraq
(as of June 1, 2006)
71,963
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
19,272
30,000
8,067
20,000
3,407
10,000
0
Army
Air Force
Navy
Marine Corps
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.
Figure 2. Reserve Component Personnel in Iraq
(as of June 1, 2006)
16,832
Army NG
269
Air NG
5,802
Army Rv
1,107
Air Rv
800
Navy Rv
1,270
Marines Rv
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.

---

CRS-3
Comparative Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Force Levels. Overall U.S.
force levels in Iraq have been declining since 2005. Based on DOD statistics, Figures 3,
4, and 5 provide comparative data on both active and reserve component force levels
since November 2005. DOD officials have declined to project the timing or size of future
force reductions, noting these will depend upon the security situation within Iraq.
Figure 3. OIF Active Component Force Levels
(Nov 2005/June 2006)
90,000
78,490
80,000
71,963
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,600
19,272
20,000
7,559
8,067
10,000
2,315 3,407
0
Army
Navy
AF
MC
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.
Figure 4. OIF Reserve Component Force Levels
(in Nov. 2005 and June 2006)
40,000
34,662
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
16,832
15,000
10,320
10,000
5,802
5,000
2,274
447
665
1,107
800
269
1,270
650
0
Army NG
Air NG
Army Rv
AF Rv
Navy Rv
Marine Rv
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.

---

CRS-4
Figure 5. Comparative U.S. Force Level in Iraq
200,000
157,982
137,365
128,789
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Nov-05
Feb-06
M
a
y-06
Jun-06
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data, June 1, 2006.
Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations. In 2006, DOD will be undertaking
the fifth rotation of units into Iraq. Rotations for Army units normally last for one year,
whereas Marine Corps units operate on a seven-month rotation. DOD has released
information on Army units to deploy to Iraq during 2006, as indicated below in Table 1.
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 Rotational Units
Military Unit
Home Military Base
2006 Transitions
Division Headquarters, 25th Infantry
Schofield Barracks, HI
currently in Iraq
Division
13th Corps Support Command
Fort Hood, TX
currently in Iraq
1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division,
Stillwater, MN
currently in Iraq
Minnesota Army National Guard
2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Schweinfurt, Germany
“delayed”a
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, WA
early August 2006
3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, NC
early August 2006
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, HI
mid-September 2006
2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, NY
mid-September 2006
Source: DOD News Releases, November 7, 2005 and DOD Army Public Affairs Office, May 2006.
a. includes DOD News Releases, May 8, 2006. Deployment decision is pending.

---