Order Code RS22449
Updated November 13, 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 November 1, 2006, according to DOD, the United States had
147,796 troops stationed in Iraq — 124,266 active component and 23,530 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 November 1, 2006, according to DOD, the United States had 147,796 military
personnel deployed in Iraq. Of these, 124,266 were active component personnel and
23,530 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
On October 11, 2006, U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Peter J. Schoomaker
announced a plan to maintain the current level of Army troops — about 120,000— in Iraq
through 2010. He emphasized that this was a plan that has “off-ramps,” allowing for
adjustments, including reductions, along the way.2 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.
2 American Forces Information Service (AFIS) News Article, October 11, 2006.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
Figure 1. Active Component Personnel in Iraq
(as of November 1, 2006)
93,556
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
19,008
30,000
8,012
20,000
3,690
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 November 1, 2006)
14,213
Army NG
397
Air NG
6,296
Army Rv
949
Air Rv
629
Navy Rv
1,046
Marines Rv
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.

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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, 5 and 6 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/Nov. 2006)
90,000
78,490
93,556
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,600 19,008
20,000
7,559
8,012
10,000
2,315 3,690
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/Nov. 2006)
40,000
34,662
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
14,213
15,000
10,320
10,000
6,296
2,274
5,000
447
397
665
949
650 629
1,046
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.

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CRS-4
Figure 5. Comparative U.S. Force Level in Iraq (Nov 2005-Oct 2006)
157,982
160,000
139,421
137,365
131,057
130,231
128,789
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Nov 2005
Feb 2006
May 2006
Jun 2006
Aug 2006
Oct 2006
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data, October 1, 2006.
Figure 6. Comparative U.S. Force Levels in Iraq
(Nov. 2005 and Nov. 2006)
200,000
157,982
147,796
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Nov. 2005
Nov. 2006
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joints Chiefs of Staff, “Boots on Ground” data.
Operation Iraqi Freedom Troop Rotations. On July 27 and September 25
2006, the Department of Defense announced its latest scheduled troop deployment and
adjustments to rotations 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.

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CRS-5
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 Rotational Units
Military Unit
Home Military Base
2006 Transitions
Army
4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Fort Bliss, TX
late-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, July 27, and September 25, 2006, and DOD
Army Public Affairs Office, July 2006.

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