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Ft. Lewis Stryker unit delayed by troop boost

Mar- 1-2007 » Filed Under: 5/2 SBCT

MELANTHIA MITCHELL, The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS - President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq has slowed the establishment of the Army's seventh Stryker brigade, to be based at Fort Lewis.

The bulk of the newly named 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division had been expected to arrive at Fort Lewis by the end of March, but that has since been postponed until May and June, base spokesman Joseph Piek said Wednesday.

The 5th Brigade was to be made up of soldiers from throughout the Army, some with previous experience in a Stryker brigade.

But the military is in the process of sending another 21,500 troops to Iraq, despite objections from House Democrats who pushed through a nonbinding resolution opposing the buildup.

"With the troop surge, a lot of the soldiers designated to go to Fort Lewis have gone elsewhere throughout the Army," Piek said.

Between 1,000 and 1,200 members of the latest Stryker Brigade Combat Team have arrived at the post since September, including battalion and company leaders who have seen to headquarters arrangements.

The majority of the unit's roughly 3,800 soldiers should be in place later this year.

"We'll still have the full up brigade here by early to midsummer," Piek said.

(via Blog-Ah!)


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