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Iraq
250 Paratroopers To Be Deployed In Iraq, Says U.S. Defense Department
2014-12-03
[IraqiNews.com] On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Department announced, that nearly 250 American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed in Iraq later this month.
None of whom, of course, will be wearing boots.
U.S. Defense Department front man, Army Col. Steve Warren said, "The deployment is scheduled to last 9 months and their mission will be carrying out security operations to support and protect American diplomatic facilities and diplomatic personalities."

Noteworthy, USA has about 1.550 soldiers in Iraq, including 800 military personnel of whom are responsible to protect American diplomatic facilities, and Warren confirmed, that the 250 additional soldiers will be deployed to mitigate for the ones stationed there.
None of them are wearing boots, either.
Posted by:trailing wife

#18  Used to be that all Regular Army commissioned 2nd Lieutenants were sent to Ranger and Airborne School...hence my tenure there.

Great training kept me alive for seven years doing crazy stuff in the "name" of national security.

Most LRP units are exclusively Rangers so except for the TOE, a LRP unit would be very similar to a Ranger company in another unit.

I commanded a reconnaisance platoon with the 8ID and there was not two whits difference between us and the Ranger Company at Livorno...the difference for me was we got sent places that NATO wouldn't let the Rangers go.
Posted by: Mystic   2014-12-03 21:37  

#17  Hoverboots?
Posted by: Angerenter Clins5983   2014-12-03 20:40  

#16  Yes, the personnel people made it an advancement criteria. More output then just ranger units justify. Light divisions (10th, 82nd, 101st) get individual allocations/percentages.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-12-03 17:56  

#15  Like all WP grads take a shot at Ranger School P2K?

The Ranger Tab is supposed to be an early "big deal" on an officers career? Or have I been reading too shallow again? Long Grey Line in this case.
Posted by: Shipman   2014-12-03 16:38  

#14  And as others point out, 82nd does not include Rangers

It's done as individuals not as a specific ranger organization - platoon, company or battalion. I'd go on to explain but something keeps blocking it.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-12-03 16:02  

#13  Something in the content is not clearing and I can't figure out why.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-12-03 16:00  

#12  Test, my post are not posting.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-12-03 15:59  

#11  Yes, an advance party. I've seen already media pre-prep for the "boots on the ground" announcement, which I would guess is not that long hence. To help Iran. Run by Rice. Dribble, dribble.

And as others point out, 82nd does not include Rangers. And very different cultures despite both being light infantry and airborne.

The Kurd-Iraq oil deal will provide opportunities. MacArthur once said there is no security, only opportunity. He is right.
Posted by: TopRev   2014-12-03 13:20  

#10  They're paratroopers. They'll snag their canopies in trees, just like at the Fryar drop zone at Benning. No boots on the ground.
(You also get that fresh pine scent.)
Posted by:    2014-12-03 07:55  

#9  There are only three Ranger Battalions - one at Ft., Stewart, GA, one at Ft. Benning GA, and one at Ft. Lewis, WA - along with a Regimental HQ and a Ranger support Battalion at Ft. Benning.

250 men sounds like a reinforced rifle company - perhaps with added commo, engineer, MP, transport and Intelligence elements.
Posted by: Lone Ranger   2014-12-03 06:14  

#8  Eighteen inch rail gun, reconditioned and back from a loan to the Dutch, part of the celebrations of the important Treaty of Utrecht, not the other Treaties of Utrecht.
Posted by: Shipman   2014-12-03 06:11  

#7  Meh, airbone, fancy heliochoppers, etc. Time reto-transformation as practiced by the UK



Posted by: Shipman   2014-12-03 06:08  

#6  Sua Sponte!!
Posted by: RJ45ACP   2014-12-03 03:27  

#5  Er....The 82nd doesn't have a Ranger Battalion. I have been out awhile, but I don't believe that has changed. Now a company of LRRSD might be the ticket.
Posted by: RJ45ACP   2014-12-03 03:24  

#4  All wearing sneakers?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2014-12-03 02:28  

#3  Not an ignorant question at all. Yes, this could be the ADVON (advance party) of a larger force. The current situation in Iraq cries out for airborne or airmobile hunter-killer teams supported by tactical air or helo gunships. [See the French battle for Kolwezi, Zaire, May 1978]
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-12-03 02:09  

#2  Pardon my ignorance, but the 82nd Airborne seems a curious choice if you are just looking for people to do facilities protection. Something bigger afoot, mayhaps?
Posted by: SteveS   2014-12-03 00:29  

#1  I wonder if they are from the 82nd's Ranger Battalion...which would make a lot of sense.
Posted by: Mystic   2014-12-03 00:24  

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