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Central Command Operations Briefing

Apr-28-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Some interesting comments from General Sattler at CENTCOM regarding both operational Stryker Brigades. He said that the current plans (which can always change, right?) include the 1-25, now at Ft. Lewis, replacing the 3-2 in Mosul when it redeploys.

[Link to Full Transcript]

Q Sir, this is Tony Capaccio with Bloomberg News. Had a couple questions. One, on the force requirement issue, on armor. You did not mention Strykers at all. Do you see a need to bring in that second brigade from Fort Lewis? You're aware of this memo from Lieutenant General Larry Ellis at FORSCOM suggesting more Strykers vis-a-vis up- armored humvees.

And two, the whole issue of precision in an urban environment. Could you give a little tutorial, quick? And how do you accomplish that between coordination with the Air Force AC-130s and the Marines on the ground -- giving the public a little perspective on how you would do that without destroying whole blocks and people.

GEN. SATTLER: Tony, on the Stryker. The Stryker is an unbelievably capable vehicle, as are the warriors who operate it. And as you know, we have the Stryker brigade right now up in the Multinational Brigade North; the Stryker brigade is the core up there. We have taken one of those Stryker battalions -- (off mike) -- that brigade, and we've moved it down. But because of its capability to assist in clearing the main supply routes -- and that's doing a marvelous job, as you would expect -- there is no need right now for an additional Stryker brigade in the country.

What we will do is we will take that additional Stryker brigade, when it's time to swap out the one in the north. Because of its capability and its speed and its flexibility to cover large areas, it's the perfect unit to go back up to the north and then cover the entire Multinational Brigade North sector. So rather than bring them in now, Tony, when we don't feel we need them, we have sufficient up- armored Humvees, we have sufficient Bradleys, we have sufficient other mechanized vehicles that give us the mobility that's necessary that we're going to hold the Stryker brigade until it's time to bring it in to replace the one that's currently in the north.


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