8,000 U.S. service members deploy to Afghanistan: The Movements

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing

First, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Forward continue to provide security at the Kabul airport and at the embassy. These are the existing security elements that were already in Kabul. This comprised of attack and lift aviation assets, infantry, security personnel and some intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance assets that are already there at the airport. And they stay there, and they are still doing their jobs in terms of internal security there at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

NOTE: The troop movements that we mentioned yesterday are happening as we speak. Three battalions are preparing to move from their current locations in the Central Command area of responsibility to Kabul, and they consist of a Marine battalion that was already pre-staged in the region and has lifts, sustainment and support capabilities. An infantry — a — a — another Marine infantry battalion from a Marine expeditionary unit and a U.S. Army infantry battalion.

The first movement is of three infantry battalions — two Marine Corps, one U.S. Army — to Hamid Karzai International Airport. This will occur within the next three days, Kirby said. 

“The next movement will consist of a joint U.S. Army/Air Force support element of around 1,000 personnel to facilitate the processing of SIV [special immigrant visa] applicants,” the press secretary said. These personnel will arrive in Qatar in the next few days. Some may deploy to Afghanistan or to other areas where the Afghans will be processed. 

The third movement is to deploy one infantry brigade combat team out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Kuwait. They will be a quick reaction force for security in Kabul if needed. “We anticipate those forces will reach Kuwait sometime within the next week,” Kirby said.

Overall, this involves roughly 8,000 U.S. service members. As in all cases, U.S. service members have the right to self-defense if attacked. The troops will be under the command of Navy Rear Adm. Pete Vasely, the commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan — Forward in Kabul.

Now, some elements of one of the Marine infantry battalions are already there in Kabul, just the leading element. They’re there. The rest of their forces will continue to flow over the next couple of days, and I expect that by the end of the weekend, the bulk of the 3,000 that we talked about yesterday will be in place — probably not all, but the bulk.

From the United States, the brigade combat team that we mentioned from the 82nd Airborne Division that is prepared to go to Kuwait as a ready reserve force will — are — are — they are now preparing to deploy. I do not have information that suggests they’re on the way right now, but I suspect that in very short order, they will start to deploy and — and — and to arrive.

Movement of some of the enablers that we talked about yesterday, designated to support the Special Immigrant Visa processing in the region, that has also begun. The — these are primarily medical personnel. I think I told you yesterday it’s a mix of medical personnel, some military police, some electrical engineers, that kind of thing. They are preparing to go. I do not have an indication today that they have actually left.

Again, they are not going into Afghanistan, they are originally going to be sent into the region for — for their use as needed to support the SIV process.

Now, as far as aircraft are concerned, to support movement of civilian personnel. TRANSCOM is, as we speak, working on their plans and their sourcing solutions with Air Mobility Command and working it out with Central Command, as well, to support this mission.

Forces and support requirements are going to be rapidly assessed by their planners. They’re working on that. And while we’re not going to be able to give out a lot of detail today. Again, the — the plans and sourcing for aircraft support and airlift are being worked out. We’ll have more to say about that when it’s appropriate and when we can, but I do want to stress that airlift will not be a limiting factor in this mission — airlift will not be a limiting factor.

And as I said yesterday, it’s not all going to be military aircraft that are used. There are — Hamid Karzai International Airport is still open, commercial flights are still going in and out, and it — it doesn’t — doesn’t — I don’t want to convey the sense that — that every lift of every individual is going to be done on a gray military aircraft, though they will be made available to support, and as I said, it’s not going to be a limiting factor.

And then finally, I just want to foot stomp something I said yesterday. This — this is a — a specific, narrowly focused, tailored mission to help with the safe, secure movement of the reduction of civilian personnel in — Kabul — yes, civilian personnel in — in Kabul, as well as to help support the acceleration of the Special Immigrant Visa process by the State Department. That’s what we’re focused on.