Stryker Brigade News

The brigade has a target strength of about 4,000 soldiers. Army officials acknowledge that the number of sidelined soldiers was considerably higher than in earlier deployments by other Fort Lewis combat brigades.

Brigade officials say that staffing was a significant concern during their first few months of duty in Iraq this year.

The problem is not "unique just to this brigade," brigade commander Col. Jon Lehr said in a telephone interview from Iraq. "It is a problem that will be experienced by future deployments."

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The 4th Brigade, formally activated in 2006, is staffed with a mix of transfers from other units and more recent recruits who joined after graduating from basic training.

It was originally scheduled to deploy for the first time later in the spring. But the date was moved up by more than 30 days as part of President Bush's campaign to bolster the number of troops in Iraq.

"The early departure date did have an effect on us because we didn't get a chance to work off as many of those medicals and some of those disciplinary actions," Lehr said.

At Fort Lewis, the brigade initially had enough soldiers to meet more than 105 percent of the authorized staffing, according to Army officials.

Army officials said some 700 soldiers were initially left behind.

Citing security issues, they declined to comment on how many brigade soldiers are now in Iraq. They note that situation has improved, with about 300 soldiers joining the brigade since April.

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