USMC announces units for Afghanistan deployment

HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS (Dec. 07, 2009) – The Marine Corps is scheduled to deploy approximately 8,500 Marines and sailors to Afghanistan in response to President Barack Obama’s announced build-up of forces.

The three deployment groups are:

- Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., with approximately 1,500 Marines, deploys before the end of December 2009.
 
 - Regimental Combat Team-2, headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C., with approximately 6,200 Marines, deploys early spring 2010.

 - I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) headquarters from Camp Pendleton, Calif., with approximately 800 Marines, deploys spring 2010. 

These units will bring the total number of Marines deployed to Afghanistan to approximately 19,500.

For more information on Task Force 1st Battalion, 6th Marines and Regimental Combat Team-2, call II Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs at (910) 451-7200. 

For more information on I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), call I Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs at (760) 763-7047.

For any other questions, call Headquarters Marine Corps Media Branch at (703) 614-4309.

                         Division of Public Affairs
                              Headquarters Marine Corps