WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- About 39,000 U.S. troops will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan later this year, a Defense Department official said Monday.
In addition, the department said it sent alerts to Army National Guard units to deploy in 2009 and 2010.
About 25,000 troops will begin to deploy to Iraq this fall, continuing through the end of the year, Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense, said in a news release.
Four Army National Guard brigades also were alerted of upcoming deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, Whitman said. About 14,000 Guard soldiers are slated to begin deploying in spring 2009 in Iraq and Kuwait.
All units will replace redeployed troops, Whitman said, cautioning that deployment forecasts could change based on ground conditions and commanders' recommendations.
The 86th Brigade Combat Team received an alert issued two years before its anticipated deployment to Afghanistan in the spring of 2010 to support the training of Afghan national security forces.
