MEB, Stryker Unit Ordered to Afghanistan

President Obama has ordered the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the Fort Lewis, Wash.-based 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, to deploy to Afghanistan. The 4,000 soldiers and 8,000 Marines will leave in the spring. The contingents will likely deploy in smaller units in the country’s southern region, in anticipation of expected spring offensives by al Qaida and Taliban fighters. Both units had initially been scheduled for deployment to Iraq.