Force rotations are in full swing

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Feb. 20, 2004 (USTCNS) --- The rotation of troops into and out of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom is in full swing, DoD officials said yesterday.

More than 40,000 troops scheduled to deploy to Iraq have moved into theater, and 35,000 of those set to come home already have departed, said Army Brig. Gen. David Rodriguez, a Joint Staff spokesman.
Pentagon officials said the rotation is the largest troop movement since World War II. A logistics official in Kuwait said it was like the Normandy invasion "in both directions."

U.S. Transportation Command is directing the complex, multi-modal transportation efforts. Unlike a year ago, for the Operation Iraqi Freedom build-up of forces, the current mission demands a heightened focus on synchronization of lift assets in to and out of the Central Command's theater of operations.

Ships are carrying more than 350,000 short tons of equipment to and from the theater, Rodriguez said. "More than 90 military aircraft and 20 commercial aircraft are involved daily in the transfer of personnel and equipment," he said.

USTRANSCOM officials said 10 seaports were used to support ongoing force rotations on Feb. 17, and more than 50 vessels were underway in addition to the airlift missions.

As the Department of Defense's provider of air, land and sea transportation during peace and war, USTRANSCOM is balancing global requirements while conducting OEF and OIF force rotations. In addition to movements in and out of Southwest Asia, on Feb 17, the command managed more than 300 air missions in support of other regional unified commands.

Mr. Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service contributed