Camp Cropper:
A US Army battalion has been redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan, making it the first army unit to make that transition.
Since the end of last year, thousands of soldiers have been given a change of mission, being told that they would deploy to Afghanistan rather than to Iraq.
For the 100th Brigade Support Battalion, that change of mission came after the unit had already deployed to Iraq.
All of the other units to receive change-of-mission orders had been in the United States at the time they received their new mandates.
The 100th Brigade Support Battalion had been in Iraq for several months and had set up base at Camp Cropper near the Baghdad International Airport.
The unit was originally organised as a supply distribution company, but was tasked with security and detainee operations once it arrived in Iraq.
The soldiers of the 100th Brigade Support Battalion are leaving a relatively stable environment in Iraq for Afghanistan, where they will face greater risk.
For that reason, the unit has received additional training to prepare them for the more hostile environment they are about to enter, they say.
The training involves use of night-vision equipment and armoured vehicles known as MRAPs, or Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
The US Department of Defence did not disclose where the 100th Brigade Support Battalion will be stationed in Afghanistan.
The drawdown of forces from Iraq - and the buildup of troops in Afghanistan - is part of US President Barack Obama's decision to commit more military resources to battle the growing threat in Afghanistan.
Obama launched the fresh effort to defeat al-Qaida extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan last Friday, widening a war that began after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.
He set new benchmarks and ordered 4-thousand more troops to the war zone as well as hundreds of civilians and increased aid. The plan does not include an exit timeline.
Since the end of last year, thousands of soldiers have been given a change of mission, being told that they would deploy to Afghanistan rather than to Iraq.
For the 100th Brigade Support Battalion, that change of mission came after the unit had already deployed to Iraq.
All of the other units to receive change-of-mission orders had been in the United States at the time they received their new mandates.
The 100th Brigade Support Battalion had been in Iraq for several months and had set up base at Camp Cropper near the Baghdad International Airport.
The unit was originally organised as a supply distribution company, but was tasked with security and detainee operations once it arrived in Iraq.
The soldiers of the 100th Brigade Support Battalion are leaving a relatively stable environment in Iraq for Afghanistan, where they will face greater risk.
For that reason, the unit has received additional training to prepare them for the more hostile environment they are about to enter, they say.
The training involves use of night-vision equipment and armoured vehicles known as MRAPs, or Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
The US Department of Defence did not disclose where the 100th Brigade Support Battalion will be stationed in Afghanistan.
The drawdown of forces from Iraq - and the buildup of troops in Afghanistan - is part of US President Barack Obama's decision to commit more military resources to battle the growing threat in Afghanistan.
Obama launched the fresh effort to defeat al-Qaida extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan last Friday, widening a war that began after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.
He set new benchmarks and ordered 4-thousand more troops to the war zone as well as hundreds of civilians and increased aid. The plan does not include an exit timeline.
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