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Newest Stryker brigade gets official send-off to Iraq

Mar-13-2007 » Filed Under: 4/2 SBCT

By Keith Eldridge, KOMO 4 News (Includes Video)

FORT LEWIS - The newest Stryker brigade is heading to Iraq a month earlier than expected at the request of the president. Monday was the official send-off for the troops.

It's a brand new unit and they're going to handling a lot of firsts: first to field the new Stryker mobile gun system and first to use the high-tech Land Warrior system.

Some of these Stryker soldiers are veterans, having been to Iraq several times. Others will be seeing their first action. But now they're all melded into one unit, the 4th Stryker Brigade.

The brigade wasn't supposed to leave for another month. But President Bush ordered them up early as part of his troop surge in Iraq. So they intensified their training.

"I tell you, I am totally confident of going and being able to execute any mission they give us," said Brigade commander Col. Jon Lehr.

They'll be the first to operate all 10 options that come with the Stryker, including the mobile gun system.

They'll also be the first to take the Land Warrior high tech communication system into combat. The display screen in their helmets keeps track of everyone’s location.

And they'll also be the first to bring 100 soldiers who've gone through months of language classes so they can mingle with the Iraqis.

But what it all comes down to is people, the soldiers and their families. [...]


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