Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces

Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces

Order Code RL31763
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces
Updated November 28, 2005
Linwood B. Carter
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces
Summary
This report provides a summary estimate of military forces reported to have
been deployed to and subsequently withdrawn from the U.S. Central Command
(USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), popularly called the Persian Gulf
region, to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. For background information on the
AOR, see [http://www.centcom.mil/aboutus/aor.htm]. Geographically, the
USCENTCOM AOR stretches from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia. The
information about military units that have been deployed and withdrawn is based on
both official government public statements and estimates identified in selected news
accounts.
The statistics have been assembled from both Department of Defense (DOD)
sources and open-source press reports. However, due to concerns about operational
security, DOD is not routinely reporting the composition, size, or destination of units
and military forces being deployed to the Persian Gulf. Consequently, not all the data
herein have been officially confirmed. For further information, see CRS Report
RL31701, Iraq: U.S. Military Operations, by Steve Bowman.
This report will be updated as the situation continues to develop.

Contents
U.S. Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Military Units: Deployed/En Route/On Deployment Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Operation Iraqi Freedom Force Rotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Support Ship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Marine Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Amphibious Task Force East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Amphibious Task Force West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Air Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Coast Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
List of Tables
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom Active Duty Force Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Table 2. Operation Iraqi Freedom Reserve Component Force Levels . . . . . . . . . . 2
Table 3. Operation Iraqi Freedom Ground Troop Rotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table 4. Operation Iraqi Freedom 4 Rotational Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table 5. Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 Rotational Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Table 6. Major Army Units Deployed or Alerted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 7. USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Table 8. Marine Corps Personnel Deployed or Alerted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 9. USS Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 10. Air Force Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 11. Coast Guard Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Table 12. Coast Guard Cutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Iraq: Summary of U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces
Military Units: Deployed/En Route/On Deployment Alert
Since December 2002 when the Department of Defense (DOD) began
announcing the first deployments of military units to the Persian Gulf region, U.S.
forces reported to be currently deployed include the following:
Army — one airborne corps, one airborne division, three infantry brigades, two
armored brigades, two armored cavalry regiments, one brigade combat team,
and one field artillery brigade
Navy — one carrier strike group, one expeditionary strike group
Marine Corps — two expeditionary forces, one expeditionary unit
Air Force — elements of 10 fighter, fighter/bomber, specialized, and support
wings
Coast Guard — six Coast Guard cutters and elements of Port Security Units
As of November 21, 2005, according to DOD officials, approximately 199,400
U.S. forces were within the borders of Iraq and the surrounding region, and 157,982
troops were within the borders of Iraq only supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF). As of that date, there were 108,964 active duty (see Table 1), 35,109 National
Guard, and 13,909 Reserve forces (see Table 2) deployed in Iraq.1 Also,
approximately 23,000 non-U.S. coalition forces from 27 countries are in Iraq
contributing to stabilization operations.2
Table 1. Operation Iraqi Freedom
Active Duty Force Levels
Branch of Service
Troop Numbers
Army
78,490
Navy
2,315
Air Force
7,559
Marine Corps
20,600
Total
108,964
1 Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs, Nov. 21, 2005.
2 Non-U.S. Forces in Iraq at [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_
coalition.htm] and Multi-National Force-Iraq at [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/coalition.htm].

CRS-2
Table 2. Operation Iraqi Freedom
Reserve Component Force Levels
Branch of Service
Troop Numbers
Army National Guard
34,662
Air National Guard
447
Army Reserve
10,320
Air Force Reserve
665
Navy Reserve
650
Marine Corps Reserve
2,274
Total
49,018
A report prepared by the staff of the U.S. Central Command, Combined Forces
Air Component Commander, indicates that as of April 30, 2003, there were 466,985
total personnel deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.3 This includes USAF, 54,955;
USAF Reserve, 2,084; USAF National Guard, 7,207; USMC, 74,405; USMC
Reserve, 9,501; USN, 61,296 (681 are members of the U.S. Coast Guard); USN
Reserve, 2,056; and USA, 233,342; USA Reserve, 10,683; and USA National Guard,
8,866.
Operation Iraqi Freedom Force Rotations
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced on November 7, 2005,
that approximately 92,000 military personnel from eight major units, 65,000 from
active duty and 26,000 from the reserve component, will deploy to Iraq in support of
the Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 (OIF 5) troop rotation (see Table 5).4 The transition
of the OIF 5 units will begin in mid-2006. Commencing on December 14, 2004, and
continuing on January 4 and January 18, 2005, DOD announced the Operation Iraqi
Freedom 4 (OIF 4) troop rotational units (see Table 4). At a hearing held by the
House Committee on Armed Services on July 7, 2004, DOD officials announced the
troops rotation plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 (OIF 3). OIF 3 commenced in
July 2004 with the stated goal of flowing new active and reserve forces into the Iraqi
theater of operations for up to 12-month rotations, and eventually reducing U.S. force
levels in Iraq from 140,000 to approximately 130,000. According to slides presented
at the hearing, units from Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 (OIF 2 or units currently
stationed in Iraq) will transition out, and units activated for OIF 3 will deploy to Iraq
commencing in July 2004 (see Table 3). Also, on May 17, 2004, DOD announced
that approximately 3,600 members of the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division will
deploy from the Republic of Korea to Iraq in mid-summer 2004.5
3 “Operation Iraqi Freedom — By the Numbers,” U.S. Central Air Forces, Assessment and
Analysis Division, Apr. 30, 2003, p. 3.
4 Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service news article, Nov. 7, 2005.
5 Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service news article, May 17, 2004.

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Table 3. Operation Iraqi Freedom Ground Troop Rotations
Transition
OIF 2
OIF 3
period
Stryker Brigade
Stryker Brigade
November 2004
1st Infantry Division
42nd Infantry Division (NY)
December 2004-
February 2005
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Marine Expeditionary Force
March 2005
1st Cavalry Division
3rd Infantry Division
November 2004-
March 2005
1st Armored Division
2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain
July 2004
Division
2nd Light Cavalry Regiment
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
July 2004
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
July 2004
155th Armored Brigade (MS)
February 2005
81st Brigade
29th Brigade (National Guard, HI)
March 2005
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
March 2005
Source: U. S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, Hearing on Troop Rotations For
Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 and Operation Enduring Freedom 6 and the Army’s Mobilization of the
Individual Ready Reserve, July 7, 2004, Prepared Statement of Lieutenant General Norton A.
Schwartz, Briefing Slide, “Ground Troop Rotation Plan Operation Iraqi Freedom.” This document
is available online from the House Armed Services Committee at [http://armedservices.house.gov/
openingstatementsandpressreleases/108thcongress/04-07-07schwartz.pdf].
Table 4. Operation Iraqi Freedom 4 Rotational Units
Transition
Military Unit
Home Military Base
period
XVIII Airborne Corps
Fort Bragg, NC
February 2005
V Corps
Heidelberg, Germany
early 2006
42nd Infantry Division (Mechanized),
Troy, NY
February 2005
New York National Guard
11th Armored Calvary Regiment
Fort Irwin, CA
February 2005
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, NC
February 2005
3rd Marine Air Wing
Miramar Naval Air
February 2005
Station, CA
3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)
Fort Stewart, GA
February 2005
48th Infantry Brigade (Separate),
Macon, GA
mid-2005
Georgia Army National Guard
29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Kalaeloa, HI
February 2005
Hawaii National Guard

CRS-4
Transition
Military Unit
Home Military Base
period
172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Fort Wainwright, AK
mid-2005
1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, NY
mid-2005
101st Airborne Division, Air Assault
Fort Campbell, KY
mid-2005
(division Headquarters and 4 Brigades)
1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, KS
mid-2005
4th Infantry Division (division
Fort Hood, TX
mid-2005
Headquarters and 4 Brigades)
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry
Washington, PA
mid-2005
Division, Pennsylvania Army National
Guard
1st and 2nd Brigades, U.S. Army 1st
Wiesbaden, Germany
mid-2005
Armored Division
Source: DOD News Releases, Dec. 14, 2004, and Jan. 4 , Jan. 18, Feb. 11, Feb. 15, 2005.
Table 5. Operation Iraqi Freedom 5 Rotational Units
Transition
Military Unit
Home Military Base
period
Division Headquarters, 25th Infantry
Schofield Barracks, HI
mid-2006
Division
13th Corps Support Command
Fort Hood, TX
mid-2006
1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division,
Stillwater, MN
mid-2006
Minnesota Army National Guard
2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Schweinfurt, Germany
mid-2006
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, WA
mid-2006
3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, NC
mid-2006
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, HI
mid-2006
2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, NY
mid-2006
Source: DOD News Release, Nov. 7, 2005.

CRS-5
On January 14, 2004, the USS Boxer6 (LHD 4) deployed from San Diego, CA,
and on January 19, 2004, the USS Bataan7 (LHD 5) deployed from Norfolk, VA.
The mission of both ships was to provide amphibious lift and logistical support for
the OIF 2 force rotation. Both ships completed their OIF 2 troop rotation support
missions. The USS Boxer on April 29, 2004, returned to its homeport in San Diego,
CA; and the USS Bataan on March 31, 2004, returned to its Norfolk, VA, homeport.
Army
Mechanized infantry divisions have 17,000 personnel consisting of three
maneuver brigades (a brigade is 5,000 soldiers) that comprise five tank battalions (a
battalion is 1,000 soldiers) and five mechanized infantry battalions.8
Armored divisions consist of 17, 000 personnel and are similar in organization
and equipment to a mechanized division, however, the three maneuver brigades have
six tank battalions and four mechanized infantry battalions.9 These numbers are
approximate. Army divisions generally deploy with additional support units not
included in division counts.
Armored cavalry regiments are comparable in size to a brigade (approximately
4,000 personnel) and are composed of three armored cavalry squadrons (a squadron
is 1,000 soldiers) and one air cavalry troop (a troop is 190 soldiers).10 A corps is a
deployable command of approximately 20,000 to 45,000 soldiers.11
Table 6. Major Army Units Deployed or Alerted
Number of
Military Unit
Personnel
Home Military Base
1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
4,000
Fort Lewis,WA
2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
4,000
Schofield Barracks, HI
10th Mountain Division (selected units)
3,650
Fort Drum, NY
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
3,700
Fort Polk, LA
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
1,500
Fort Irwin, CA
6 “USS Boxer to Deploy in Support of Global War on Terrorism,” Navy Newsstand, Jan. 8,
2004.
7 “USS Bataan to Deploy in Support of OIF Force Rotation,” Navy Newsstand, Jan. 13,
2004.
8 This information comes from archived CRS Report 91-167, Persian Gulf War: Summary
of U.S. and Non-U.S. Forces (no longer available; for more information, contact Steven R.
Bowman at 7-7613).
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Department of the Army, Organization of the United States Army, Pamphlet 10-1, June
14, 1994, J4-J10.

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Number of
Military Unit
Personnel
Home Military Base
XVIII Airborne Corps (Selected Units)
8,000
Fort Bragg, NC
82nd Airborne Division
5,000
Fort Bragg, NC
17th Field Artillery Brigade
2,000
Fort Sill, OK
1st Infantry Division (Mechanized)
1,800
Wuerzburg, Germany
3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), 2nd
4,400
Fort Stewart, GA
Unit of Action Brigade
42nd Infantry Division (Mechanized)
23,000
Troy, NY
2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
3,614
Camp Red Cloud, South
Korea
29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Hawaii
3,600
Kalaeloa, Oahu, HI
National Guard
81st Armor Brigade (Separate),
4,500
Seattle, WA
Washington National Guard
56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry
2,944
Fort Worth, TX
Division, Texas Army National Guard
155th Armored Brigade (Separate),
4,015
Tupelo, MS
Mississippi Army National Guard
30th Infantry Brigade (eHSB)
4,500
Clinton, NC
Mechanized, North Carolina Army
National Guard
39th Infantry Brigade (eHSB) (Light),
4,200
Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Army National Guard
Navy
The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) does not have an official definition or standard
composition. Battle groups are formed and disestablished by the Navy on an as
needed basis, and one may be different from another. However, they all are
comprised of similar types of ships and aircraft. The U.S. Navy announced on April
9, 2003, that the USS Abraham Lincoln CSG was relieved of duty by the USS Nimitz,
and would be returning to homeport. DOD officials said during a Pentagon briefing
on April 14, 2003, that the USS Constellation and USS Kitty Hawk CSGs were being
withdrawn from the Iraqi theater of operations to return to their homeports. On May
9, 2003, the USS Theodore Roosevelt CSG was ordered to return to homeport, and
on May 15, 2003, the Navy reported that the USS Harry S. Truman CSG had
withdrawn and would return from deployment.
On September 5, 2003, DOD officials said the USS Nimitz CSG was departing
the Persian Gulf to replace the USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific Ocean. On November
3, 2003, the USS Enterprise CSG deployed from the port of Jebel Ali, United Arab
Emirates, for the North Arabian Sea. The USS Enterprise CSG was scheduled to
return to its homeport of Norfolk, VA, on February 29, 2004, and was replaced by
the USS George Washington CSG on February 16, 2004. The USS George
Washington CSG returned to its Norfolk, VA homeport on July 26, 2004, and was
replaced by the USS John F. Kennedy CSG. The USS John F. Kennedy CSG was

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relieved of duty station by the USS Harry S. Truman CSG on November 20, 2004.
The USS Carl Vinson CSG replaced the USS Harry S. Truman CSG on March 19,
2005. The USS Carl Vinson CSG will continue military and maritime operations in
support of OIF. The USS Nimitz CSG replaced the USS Carl Vinson CSG in the
Persian Gulf on July 5, 2005. The USS Theodore Roosevelt CSG arrived on station
to replace the USS Nimitz CSG on September 24, 2005.
Support Ship. The USNS Comfort hospital ship is a 1,000-bed medical
treatment facility capable of providing emergency on-site care for U.S. combatant
forces deployed in war and peacetime operations. The ship is also equipped to
deliver medical care for troops injured in biological and chemical attacks. On May
9, 2003, the Comfort was ordered to return to its homeport in Baltimore, MD.
USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Carrier Air Wing 8
consists of 70-80 aircraft including the: F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet,
E-2CHawkeye, EA-6B Prowler, C-2A Greyhound, SH-60F/HH-60H Seahawk.
Table 7. USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group
Name
Type of Ship
Homeport
USS Theodore Roosevelt
Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Norfolk, VA
USS San Jacinto
Guided missile cruiser
Norfolk, VA
USS Oscar Austin
Guided missile destroyer
Norfolk, VA
USS Donald Cook
Guided missile destroyer
Norfolk, VA
SPS Alvaro de Bazan
Frigate
Spain
USNS Mount Baker
Combat logistics ship
Earle, NJ
USNS Kanawha
Combat logistics ship
Norfolk, VA
Marine Corps
A complete Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) consists of approximately
45,000 personnel. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) has 15,000 troops, and
the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is composed of nearly 2,000 marines.12
12 CRS Report 91-167, Persian Gulf War (out of print; available from author: 7-8983).

CRS-8
Table 8. Marine Corps Personnel Deployed or Alerted
Number of
Military Unit
Personnel
Home Military Base
I Marine Expeditionary Force
25,000
Camp Pendleton, C
II Marine Expeditionary Force
20,000
Camp Lejeune, NC
(Forward) (Selected Elements)
2nd Marine Division (selected
1,850
Camp Lejeune, NC
elements)
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
2,100
Camp Pendleton
(SOC)
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Selected
7,500
San Diego, CA
Elements)
Operationally, these Marine Corps units are organized into Amphibious Task
Forces that consist of three Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) or battle groups.
Each ARG is led by an amphibious assault helicopter carrier with approximately
2,000 marines on board.13 On June 13, 2003, the Marine Corps reported that the 2nd
Marine Expeditionary Brigade had withdrawn from Iraq and would return to Camp
Lejeune on June 22, 2003. The 15th MEU on April 29, 2003, and the 26th MEU on
July 10, 2003, were both withdrawn from Iraq and redeployed. The 26th MEU
returned to Iraq on May 2, 2005, and redeployed to its home military base on August
30, 2005.
Amphibious Task Force East. Six to eight aircraft and 33 helicopters,
including AV-8 Harrier, CH-53 Sea Stallions, CH-46 Sea Knights, AH-1 Sea Cobras,
Mechanized Landing (LCM), Landing Craft Utility (LCU), and Landing Craft, Air
Cushion (LCAC) landing craft. On June 6, 2003, the Navy reported that the sailors,
marines, and ships attached to Amphibious Task Force East would return to Norfolk,
VA, on June 25-26, 2003.
Amphibious Task Force West. Six to eight aircraft and 33 helicopters,
including AV-8 Harrier, CH-53 Sea Stallions, CH-46 Sea Knights, AH-1 Sea Cobras,
Mechanized Landing (LCM), Landing Craft Utility (LCU), and Landing Craft, Air
Cushion (LCAC) landing craft. On July 30, 2003, the Navy reported that the sailors,
marines, and ships attached to Amphibious Task Force West returned to San Diego
on July 26, 2003.
On July 25, 2003, the Navy ordered the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to
redeploy from Iraq. On July 25, 2003, President George W. Bush ordered the USS
Iwo Jima to take a position for possible action off the coast of Liberia.
Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESG). Expeditionary Strike Group One,
led by the USS Peleliu Amphibious Assault Ship, is the first ESG to deploy overseas.
The ESG arrived in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility in September 2003 with
13 “Sending in the Marines,” Washington Post, Jan. 29, 2003, p. A13.

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the assigned mission of “providing a post-war presence in the region, aid in
peacekeeping, security, and to promote an environment conducive to rebuilding a
new Iraqi government.”14 ESG One was scheduled to return to the United States
during the first week of March 2004. Expeditionary Strike Group Two is led by the
USS Wasp Amphibious Assault Ship — the first ESG to deploy from the East Coast.
ESG Two departed from Norfolk, VA, on February 17, 2004, to replace ESG One.15
Expeditionary Strike Group Three (ESG 3), also known as the Belleau Wood
ESG 3, entered the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet on July 2, 2004, and will assume the duties
of maritime security operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG). The NAG
security operations include security of the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya Iraqi oil
terminals.16 Expeditionary Strike Group Two was redeployed to its homeport on
August 21, 2004. ESG Three changed flag staff and ships at sea, from the USS
Belleau Wood to the USS Essex. The Essex Expeditionary Strike Group was
officially activated on September 10, 2004, and will be responsible for “Maritme
Security Operations (MSO) in the Northern Arabian Gulf, to include protection of Al
Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Oil Terminal (KAAOT) off the coast of
Iraq.”17
The USS Bonhomme Richard ESG arrived in the Persian Gulf on January 26,
2005, to relieve the Essex ESG.18 The USS Kearsarge ESG arrived on station in the
Persian Gulf on May 2, 2005, to replace the USS Bonhomme Richard ESG. The USS
Kearsarge will be conducting maritime security operations.19 The USS Kearsarge
ESG redeployed and departed its Persian Gulf station, when it transited the Suez
Canal on August 30, 2005.20 The USS Tarawa ESG arrived on station in the Persian
Gulf on November 16, 2005. Designated (ESG 1), the Tarawa ESG’s mission is to
lead a task force of six coalition ships in conducting MSO in the North Arabian Sea
and the Gulf of Oman.21
14 “ESG 1 Heads North in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Navy Newsstand, Oct. 21,
2003.
15 “Wasp Strike Group and 22 MEU to Deploy,” Navy Newsstand, Feb. 10, 2004.
16 “ESG 3 Assumes Maritime Security Mission,” Navy Newsstand, Jul. 7, 2004.
17 “ESG 3 Proves Flexibility, Mobility with First Staff Cross Deck at Sea,” Navy Newstand,
Sept. 15, 2004.
18 “Bonhomme Richard Arrives On Station in Persian Gulf,” Navy Newsstand, Jan. 26, 2005.
19 “Kearsarge on Station in Persian Gulf,” Navy Newsstand, May 3, 2005.
20 “26th MEU Completes Distributed OPS in CENTCOM AOR,” Marine Corps News, Aug.
31, 2005.
21 “ESG-1 Conducts Maritime Security Operations in Arabian Sea,” Navy Newsstand, Nov.
16, 2005.

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Table 9. USS Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group
Name
Type of Ship
Homeport
USS Tarawa
Amphibious assault ship
San Diego, CA
USS Cleveland
Amphibious transport dock ship
San Diego, CA
USS Pearl Harbor
Amphibious dock landing ship
San Diego, CA
Air Force
The units listed below are those DOD has publically acknowledged have been
deployed; additional units and aircraft may have been deployed but not
acknowledged.
Table 10. Air Force Units
Military Unit
Military Base
447th Air Expeditionary Group
Baghdad IAP/Camp Sather, Iraq
506th Air Expeditionary Group
Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq
40th Air Expeditionary Wing
Diego Garcia , BIOT
(selected elements)
320th Air Expeditionary Wing
Seeb IAP, Oman
321st Air Expeditionary Wing
Masirah AB, Oman
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
Balad Air Base, Iraq
380th Air Expeditionary Wing
Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab
Emirates
386th Air Expeditionary Wing
Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
405th Air Expeditionary Wing
Thumrait Air Base, Oman
407th Air Expeditionary Group
Tallil Air Base, Iraq
Coast Guard
According to the Coast Guard (CG), during peak OIF operations there were
1,250 active duty personnel and nearly 500 reservists, two large cutters, a buoy
tender, eight patrol boats (CGCs), four port security units, and law enforcement
detachments deployed to the Persian Gulf region.22 On May 23, 2003, the Coast
Guard announced the CGCs Dallas, Pea Island, Knight Island, Bainbridge Island,
and Grand Isle would be returning to their homeports. On June 10, 2003, the Navy
reported that Naval Coastal Warfare Group 1 had completed their port security and
harbor defense mission and would return to San Diego, CA. Port Security Unit 313
22 U.S. Coast Guard, Factcard, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sept. 2003.

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returned to Tacoma, WA, on August 27, 2003. On June 2, 2004, at the request of
DOD officials, the CG ordered the deployment of two additional 110-foot Patrol
Boats and two Law Enforcement Detachments. These additional units will bring the
total number of CG personnel currently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom to 400.23
Table 11. Coast Guard Personnel
Units
Home Base
Port Security Unit 307
St. Petersburg, FL
PacificTactical Law Enforcement
St. Petersburg, FL
Detachment - South
PacificTactical Law Enforcement
San Diego, CA
Detachment - Pacific
Harbor Defense Command Unit 111
Alameda, CA
Table 12. Coast Guard Cutters
Name
Type of Ship
Homeport
CGC Wrangell
Island Class Cutter
South Portland, ME
CGC Adak
Island Class Cutter
Sandy Hook, NJ
CGC Aquidneck
Island Class Cutter
Atlantic Beach, NC
CGC Baranof
Island Class Cutter
Miami, FL
CGC Monomoy
Island Class Cutter
Woods Hole, MA
CGC Maui
Island Class Cutter
San Juan, PR
23 U.S. Coast Guard, Press Release, Coast Guard Deploys Additional Units To Support
Operation Iraqi Freedom, June 2, 2004.