Changes to Iraq Deployments Afoot

The Defense Department is changing the make-up and mission of units scheduled for deployment to Iraq. Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman said at a July 14 press conference that four of the next seven brigades headed to Iraq will be advise-and-assist brigades, rather than brigade combat teams, according to a report by Voice of America News. As the U.S. mission’s focus shifts toward advising and assisting Iraqi units in providing security for their country, the deploying units will include heavy contingents of civil affairs specialists, engineers, and senior officers.