Order Code RS22449
Updated August 10, 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 August 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 August 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 Fact Sheet, Global Commitments, May 10, 2006.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

CRS-2
Figure 1. Active Component Personnel in Iraq
(as of August 1, 2006)
76,856
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
20,367
30,000
8,186
20,000
3,666
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 August 1, 2006)
12,724
Army NG
277
Air NG
6,082
Army Rv
954
Air Rv
772
Navy Rv
1,173
Marines Rv
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
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, particularly the Reserve Component.
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/Aug. 2006)
90,000
78,490 76,856
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,600 20,367
20,000
7,559
8,186
10,000
2,315 3,666
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
(Nov. 2005/Aug. 2006)
40,000 34,662
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
12,724
15,000
10,320
10,000
6,082
2,274
5,000
447
665
277
954
772
650
1,173
0
Army
Air NG Army Rv
AF Rv
Navy Rv Marine
NG
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
130,231
150,000
128,789
131,057
100,000
50,000
0
Nov-05
Feb-06
May-06
Jun-06
Aug-06
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data, August 1, 2006.
Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations. On July 27, 2006, the Department
of Defense announced its latest scheduled troop deployment rotation to Iraq in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Combined with earlier DOD announcements, the
remaining 2006 schedule for the affected Army and Marine Corps units is summarized
in Table 1 below. Rotations for Army units normally last for one year, whereas Marine
Corps units operate on a seven-month rotation. Additionally in its July 27 press release,
the Department of Defense announced the extension of deployment in Iraq of the 172nd
Stryker Brigade Combat Team for up to 120 days.

CRS-5
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 Rotational Units
Military Unit
Home Military Base
2006 Transitions
Army
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, WA
August 2006
3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, NC
August 2006
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, HI
mid-September 2006
2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, NY
mid-September 2006
III Corps Headquarters (Army)
Fort Hood, TX
late-2006
1st Cavalry Division Headquarters
Fort Hood, TX
late-2006
2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, TX
late-2006
3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, TX
late-2006
4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Fort Richardson, AK
late-2006
2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Fort Carson, CO
late-2006
1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, TX
late-2006
4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Bliss, TX
late-2006
1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
Fort Stewart, GA
late-2006
(prepare for “possible
deployment”)
Marines
Regimental Combat Team 2
Camp Lejeune, NC
late-2006
Regimental Combat Team 6
Camp Lejeune, NC
late-2006
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, NC
late-2006
Source: DOD News Releases, November 7, 2005, June 20 and July 27, 2006, and DOD Army Public
Affairs Office, July 2006.
crsphpgw