Christmas - 2009 - "For unto us is born ...a Savior"

For unto you is born this day… a Savior who is Christ the Lord .”
Luke 2:11

Hope has Come
Let us join with the angel voices
Let us join their happy song
All of heaven and earth rejoices
For the Lamb of God has come
He has come to rescue sinners
Come to meet our desperate need
He was born to bring forgiveness
Born for Calvary

Alleluia, Hope has come
Alleluia, Christ has come
We once were slaves in misery
Till You appeared and set us free
Alleluia, Hope has come

Let us lay our gifts before Him
Let us magnify His Name
With our thankful hearts adore Him
For the Lord has come to save
He has come to break sin’s power
He has come to set us free
Hope was born that glorious hour
Christ the mighty King

by Stephen Altrogge

Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man

Cyndi- 3 yrs Comissioned- excellent work!!

We remember the day 3 yrs ago 2006 when you pledged to serve , Thanks for the excellent example.

Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and all that is within me,bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits

Matt and Cyndi


You are truly a blessing to us.

We never want to forget that you are a gift to us by God.

We also want you to know that our soul is refreshed when we think of you and spend our cherished times together.

So be encouraged this day and know, new and afresh, the new mercies and protection of our Lord.

We give thanks this day for you!

Love,

your fam

“In order to our return of praises to God, there must be a grateful remembrance of the mercies we have received from him: Forget not all his benefits. If we do not give thanks for them, we do forget them; and that is unjust as well as unkind, since in all God’s favours there is so much that is memorable.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Afghanistan surge

16,000 have orders for Afghanistan surge

Officials Announce First Afghanistan Surge Units
By Jim Garamone
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_afghanistan_orders_120709/

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2009 – About 16,000 Marines and soldiers have been notified they will deploy to Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s new strategy.
Obama announced his decision to deploy 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan in the first half of 2010 on Dec. 1. The troops in today’s announcement primarily will come from Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Camp Pendleton, Calif., Pentagon officials said today. More notifications will be made in the weeks and months ahead, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
These initial deployments will join the 68,000 American troops already in the country. At the end of the effort, about 100,000 U.S. troops will be deployed to Afghanistan.
About 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune will deploy later this month. In addition, 6,200 Marines of Regimental Combat Team 2 at Camp Lejeune were alerted for deployment early in the spring, Whitman said.
The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton will deploy 800 Marines in the spring, Whitman said.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum will deploy 3,400 soldiers in early spring to train Afghan forces.
 Additionally, 4,100 support personnel will deploy at various times through the spring, Whitman said. Military officials call these personnel “enablers” who do essential missions and bring extra value to the counterinsurgency effort. These include military police personnel, engineers, civil affairs personnel, route-clearance teams, explosive ordnance demolition personnel and experts in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Christmas/Thanksgiving 2009

 

"The Rising Sun will always speak your name.

Your memory is never passing
It won't be long, we'll meet again .
My love for you is everlasting." (Killswitch Engage-song)


 

Gealy W.Wallwork Hall- IUP

We have been fortunate to share our lives with Gealy and Betty Wallwork. Over the years we have found that at the important times they were there with us. They are true friends. William Wilberforce, a reformer of his day in the late 1800’s, has written concerning friendship that describes them:
“Friends have the capacity to listen when we most need it, the capacity for sharing a word in season when we most require it; they stay the course with us when the storms of life break over us. No man has more cause for gratitude to God than myself for this gift of friendship."


Gealy we want you to know that our respect and affection for you and Betty increases the longer we live and the more we know. We recount the blessings you have given us.
Betty your husband, children, and grandchildren “rise up and call you blessed” . You are a lovely person. You are steadfast in your support of Gealy and your family.
Gealy, the naming of this hall is an honor for the Wallwork, Myers, Boone and Greenly families and a testimony to your parents. We are grateful to all the individuals at IUP who have granted this honor.
Future generations will hear of you and will recall this day and this Residence Hall and will recall your dedication, kindness and service. The power of your “devotion and energy” and vision will pass into your children’s, children, children and others that attend this University.
Our hope and anticipation as we look ahead to your future is captured in a quote of John Flavel a Puritan leader from Dartmouth, England in 1678 speaking on stewardship:
“Whoever finds a careful and a thankful heart to record and treasure up the daily experiences of God’s mercy to him shall never lack new mercies to record to his dying day.

President Proclaims Military Family Month

“No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our Nation’s military and their families. As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage. They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our Nation in their own right. During Military Family Month, we honor the families of our Armed Forces and thank them for their dedication to our country.”

President Barack Obama
October 30, 2009


American Forces Press Service “Family Matters” Blog

http://afps.dodlive.mil/

STEEHEAD / SHOPPING DAY

An Army brigade that had been training for deployment to Iraq that month may be the vanguard.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_afghanistan_111009/

U.S. troops likely added soon in Afghanistan

By Anne Gearan and Steven R. Hurst - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 7:33:13 EST

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is nearing a decision to add tens of thousands more forces to Afghanistan, though probably not quite the 40,000 sought by his top general there.

The White House emphasized that the president hasn't made a decision yet about troop levels or other aspects of the revised U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.

Administration officials told the Associated Press on Monday the deployment would most probably begin in January with a mission to stiffen the defense of 10 key cities and towns. An Army brigade that had been training for deployment to Iraq that month may be the vanguard. The brigade, based at Fort Drum in upstate New York, has been told it will not go to Iraq as planned but has been given no new mission yet. (1Bct- Warrior)

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president would meet again Wednesday with key members of his foreign policy and military team but was unlikely to announce final plans for Afghanistan until late this month, when he returns from an extended diplomatic trip to Asia.

Gibbs said the Pentagon is "working on additional recommendations" to present to Obama and said Obama has made no decision on troop numbers, or even on what the ratio should be between combat troops and trainers.

Military officials said Obama will have choices that include a phased addition of up to 40,000 forces over some six months or more next year, based on security conditions and the decisions of NATO allies.

Several officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made also said Obama's announcement will be much broader than the mathematics of troop numbers, which have dominated the U.S. debate.

It soon will be three months since Afghan commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal reported to Obama that the U.S. mission was headed for failure without the addition of about 40,000 troops.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because final plans have not been disclosed, dubbed the likely troop increase as "McChrystal Light" because it would fall short of his request. They also said additional small infusions of troops could be dispatched next spring and summer.

The more gradual buildup, the officials said, would allow time to construct needed housing and add equipment needed for transporting the expanded force.

Besides being sent to cities and towns, the new forces would be stationed to protect important roads and other key infrastructure.

As he makes his decision, Obama told ABC News that he's been "asking not only Gen. McChrystal but all of our commanders who are familiar with the situation, as well as our civilian folks on the ground, a lot of questions that, until they're answered, may — may create a situation in which we resource something based on faulty premises."

He said he wanted to make sure "that if we are sending additional troops that the prospects of a functioning Afghan government are enhanced, that the prospects of al-Qaida being able to attack the U.S. homeland are reduced."

. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and peace

President Obama’s remarks

Posted : Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 15:27:53 EST

We come together filled with sorrow for the 13 Americans that we have lost; with gratitude for the lives that they led; and with a determination to honor them through the work we carry on.
This is a time of war. And yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great American community. It is this fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible.
For those families who have lost a loved one, no words can fill the void that has been left. We knew these men and women as soldiers and caregivers. You knew them as mothers and fathers; sons and daughters; sisters and brothers.
But here is what you must also know: Your loved ones endure through the life of our nation. Their memory will be honored in the places they lived and by the people they touched. Their life’s work is our security, and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that is their legacy.
Neither this country — nor the values that we were founded upon — could exist without men and women like these thirteen Americans. And that is why we must pay tribute to their stories.
Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician’s assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having a heart attack.
Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a Ph.D., and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He is survived by his wife, sons and stepdaughters.
Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light wheeled mechanic and Satellite Communications Operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and father.
After retiring from the Army as a major, John Gaffaney cared for society’s most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a captain. He leaves behind a wife and son.
Spec. Frederick Greene was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time, and did so in 2008 with the support of his family. As a combat engineer he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Spec. Jason Hunt was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq, and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21st birthday so that he could continue to serve.
Staff Sgt. Amy Krueger was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9/11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn’t take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: “Watch me.”
Pfc. Aaron Nemelka was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service — defuse bombs — so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family.
Pfc. Michael Pearson loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar, and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago, and was preparing for his first deployment.
Capt. Russell Seager worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with post-traumatic stress. He had great respect for the military, and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son.
Pvt. Francheska Velez, the daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, had recently served in Korea and in Iraq, and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child, and was excited about becoming a mother.
Lt. Col. Juanita Warman was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mother who put herself through college and graduate school, and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband.
Pfc. Kham Xiong came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.
These men and women came from all parts of the country. Some had long careers in the military. Some had signed up to serve in the shadow of 9/11. Some had known intense combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some cared for those did. Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity and the decency of those who serve, and that is how they will be remembered.
That same spirit is embodied in the community here at Fort Hood, and in the many wounded who are still recovering. In those terrible minutes during the attack, soldiers made makeshift tourniquets out of their clothes. They braved gunfire to reach the wounded, and ferried them to safety in the backs of cars and a pick-up truck.
One young soldier, Amber Bahr, was so intent on helping others that she did not realize for some time that she, herself, had been shot in the back. Two police officers — Mark Todd and Kim Munley — saved countless lives by risking their own. One medic — Francisco de la Serna — treated both Officer Munley and the gunman who shot her.
It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy. But this much we do know – no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice — in this world, and the next.
These are trying times for our country. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the same extremists who killed nearly 3,000 Americans continue to endanger America, our allies, and innocent Afghans and Pakistanis. In Iraq, we are working to bring a war to a successful end, as there are still those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that Americans and Iraqis have sacrificed so much for.
As we face these challenges, the stories of those at Fort Hood reaffirm the core values that we are fighting for, and the strength that we must draw upon. Theirs are tales of American men and women answering an extraordinary call — the call to serve their comrades, their communities, and their country. In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans.
We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it. We saw that valor in those who braved bullets here at Fort Hood, just as surely as we see it in those who signed up knowing that they would serve in harm’s way.
We are a nation of laws whose commitment to justice is so enduring that we would treat a gunman and give him due process, just as surely as we will see that he pays for his crimes.
We are a nation that guarantees the freedom to worship as one chooses. And instead of claiming God for our side, we remember Lincoln’s words, and always pray to be on the side of God.
We are a nation that is dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. We live that truth within our military, and see it in the varied backgrounds of those we lay to rest today. We defend that truth at home and abroad, and we know that Americans will always be found on the side of liberty and equality. That is who we are as a people.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a chance to pause, and to pay tribute — for students to learn of the struggles that preceded them; for families to honor the service of parents and grandparents; for citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of a more perfect union.
For history is filled with heroes. You may remember the stories of a grandfather who marched across Europe; an uncle who fought in Vietnam; a sister who served in the Gulf. But as we honor the many generations who have served, I think all of us — every single American — must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who have come before.
We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.
This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations — all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.
In today’s wars, there is not always a simple ceremony that signals our troops’ success — no surrender papers to be signed, or capital to be claimed. But the measure of their impact is no less great — in a world of threats that no know borders, it will be marked in the safety of our cities and towns, and the security and opportunity that is extended abroad. And it will serve as testimony to the character of those who serve, and the example that you set for America and for the world.
Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to 13 men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home. Later today, at Fort Lewis, one community will gather to remember so many in one Stryker Brigade who have fallen in Afghanistan.
Long after they are laid to rest — when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today’s servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown — it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.
So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America.

"I make known the end from the beginning, Drum BCT’s Iraq deployment canceled

Is 49:10 "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

Drum BCT’s Iraq deployment canceled

The Associated PressPosted : Friday Oct 16, 2009 8:42:15 EDT

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — The Army is canceling the deployment of 3,500 Fort Drum troops to Iraq in January.
Fort Drum spokeswoman Julie Cupernall says there’s no word yet on whether the 3,500 troops of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team might be headed to Afghanistan instead as part of a troop level increase now being debated by the Obama administration.
President Barack Obama is expected to announce the results of a review of U.S. policy in Afghanistan in the coming weeks. The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan has requested more troops to fight the insurgency there.
For now, Cupernall says the 1st BCT goes back into a pool of deployable brigades.

Oct 6, 2009- Captain "Carried forward by perfect trust"

(Joshua L. Chamberlain- letter to his mother)
"I believe in a destiny- one, i mean, divinely appointed, and to which we are carried forward by a perfect trust in God. I have laid plans, in my day, and good ones i thought. But they never succeeded. Something else, better ,did, and I could see it plain as day, that God had done it, and for my good.

So I am right, be sure of that, happen what may. Not for any merit of mine, but for divine and loving mercy all is bright with me, in this world and beyond."

SALMON RIVER-

uncle mike enjoys and Iron city

Jonny missin abby

We will Never Forget -National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 18, 2009.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 18, 2009.

Proclaiming today as National POW/MIA Recognition Day, President Barack Obama issued a statement urging Americans “to observe this day of honor and remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” The Pentagon ceremony, which featured a passing-in-review by troops of all services and aerial flyovers, is part of nationwide activities observing National POW-MIA Recognition Day, typically held annually on the third Friday of September. About 88,000 U.S. servicemembers are recorded as missing or unaccounted for since World War II. “We pause today to remember, honor, and show solidarity with our troops who have been captured or gone missing in America’s wars,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, “and to affirm that we will never forget our duty to bring them home.”

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001- Remembered

This was the closing remarks on the

Day of Rememberance Prayer of Billy Graham 9/14/01.
I still remember the impact of his last few words. It is good for us to remember.

And in the words of that familiar hymn,
"Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us, and will know in our hearts that He will never forsake us as we trust in Him.We also know that God is going to give wisdom and courage and strength to the President and those around him. And this is going to be a day that we will remember as a day of victory.May God bless you all.

Obama, Pentagon Leaders Honor 9/11 Victims, Pledge Resolve in Defense of U.S. By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=55798

“Eight Septembers have come and gone. Nearly 3,000 days have passed -- almost one for each of those taken from us,” Obama said. “But no turning of the seasons can diminish the pain and the loss of that day; no passage of time and no dark skies can ever dull the meaning of this moment. “So on this solemn day, at this sacred hour, once more we pause, once more we pray, as a nation and as a people -- in city streets where our two towers were turned to ashes and dust, in a quiet field where a plane fell from the sky, and here where a single stone of this building is still blackened by the fires,” he added. The president called on Americans to renew their resolve against those who perpetrated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and who continue to plot against the U.S. “In defense of our nation, we will never waiver,” he said. “In pursuit of al Qaeda and its extremist allies, we will never falter. Let us renew our commitment to all those who serve in our defense -- our courageous men and women in uniform and their families, and all those who protect us here at home. Mindful that the work of protecting America is never finished, we will do everything in our power to keep America safe."(President Obama 9/11/09)

CANADA Sept 09- KILBURN

Great trip to the camp on Kilburn-

the fog and loons on the lake, wind through the pines, smell of camp fire, bacon -eggs and fresh trout....

Psalm 78:4
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done

Aug 11- 2006- 2009- Commissioning

Matt,
Proud of your service to our United States of America- 3 yrs - and your commissioning! You are a man of fine character.

Wanted to encourage you with a quote i read that reminds me of you in "In the Hands of Providence- Joshua Chamberlain". This was during the maneuver called " refusing the line" prior to the Battle of Gettysburg.
The long study, discipline, and training together with their indomitable resolution and character were paying.. rewards.
Chamberlain was unaware that "all his life experiences had prepared him for this day"

"We know not of the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can hold our spirits and our bodies so pure so high, we may cherish such thoughts and such ideals, and dream such dreams of lofty purpose, that we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever the hour strikes, that calls to noble action... no man becomes suddenly different from his habit and cherished thought." (JLC)

JRTC- Fort Polk Louisiana

Matt and Cyndi - JRTC Aug 5th-29

http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/AboutJRTC.htm

ABOUT JRTC
Forging the Warrior Spirit
The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) is focused on improving unit readiness by providing highly realistic, stressful, joint and combined arms training across the full spectrum of conflict (current and future).
The JRTC is one of the Army’s three “Dirt” Combat Training Centers resourced to train infantry brigade task forces and their subordinate elements in the Joint Contemporary Operational Environment.

With great emphasis on realism, the JRTC provides rotational units (BLUEFOR) with the opportunity to conduct joint operations which emphasize contingency force missions. The JRTC training scenario is based on each participating organization's mission essential tasks list and many of the exercises are mission rehearsals for actual operations the organization is scheduled to conduct.
JRTC scenarios allow complete integration of Air Force and other military services as well as host-nation and civilian role players. The exercise scenarios replicates many of the unique situations and challenges a unit may face to include host national officials and citizens, insurgents and terrorists, news media coverage, and non-governmental organizations.
Observer/Controllers (O/C) help make JRTC training effective. The O/C's have a duty to the training unit and the Army to observe unit performance, control engagements and operations, teach doctrine, coach to improve unit performance, monitor safety and conduct professional After Action Reviews (AARs). O/C's are required to have successfully performed the duties of their counter-part. They constantly strive for personal and professional development, and are well versed in current operational doctrine and tactics, techniques and procedures.
AARs provide immediate feedback for each element, from platoon through brigade task force. AAR's provide impartial feedback, that encourage interaction and discussion of unit strengths and weaknesses by all members of the unit. Every AAR orients on a specific mission and /or system, identifying good and bad trends, and provides units the opportunity to determine not only what their weaknesses are, but who is going to fix that weakness.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Polk

Defense Secretary Robert Gates addresses more than 200 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division on July 16 during a visit to Fort Drum, N.Y.

Gates: More troops may deploy to Afghanistan
By Lara Jakes - The Associated PressPosted : Thursday Jul 16, 2009 21:56:05 EDT

CHICAGO — The Pentagon’s chief said Thursday he could send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year than he’d initially expected and is considering increasing the number of soldiers in the Army.
Both issues reflect demands on increasingly stressed American forces tasked with fighting two wars.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ comments came during a short visit to Fort Drum in upstate New York — an Army post that that he said has deployed more soldiers to battle zones over the last 20 years than any other unit. Two Fort Drum brigades are headed to Iraq in coming months, and a third is currently in Afghanistan.
Asked about Afghanistan by one soldier, Gates said, “I think there will not be a significant increase in troop levels in Afghanistan beyond the 68,000, at least probably through the end of the year. Maybe some increase, but not a lot.”
So far, the Obama administration has approved sending 68,000 troops to Afghanistan by the end of 2009, including 21,000 that were added this spring.
The White House has wanted to wait until the end of the year before deciding whether to deploy more, but Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that Gates does not want to discourage his new commander in Kabul, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, from taking a frank look at how many troops he needs.
McChrystal, who took over as commander for all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan last month, is expected to advise Washington in the next few weeks on his views of how to win the 8-year war.
McChrystal is nearing the end of a 60-day review of troop requirements in Afghanistan, and will soon provide that report to Gates.
The former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, had told Obama that he needed an additional 10,000 troops, beyond the 68,000. The White House had put off that decision until the end of this year.
Gates and other military leaders have said they are reluctant to send many more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, because of concerns that a large American footprint there could appear to Afghans as an occupying force.
During a question-and-answer session with soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, Gates also said he is looking at beefing up the Army with more troops. He did not say by how many, or what the plan would cost, but predicted that he’ll decide as early as next week.
“We are very mindful of stress on the force,” he said.
Earlier this week, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., filed legislation to authorize the hiring of 30,000 new active-duty Army soldiers for the 2010 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. In a statement, Lieberman called it a “critical first step toward making sure that our military leaders can execute their strategy while also reducing the heavy strain on our soldiers and their families.”
Most of the 200 soldiers in Thursday’s short town hall-style meeting are headed to Iraq later this fall. Their commander, Maj. Gen. Mike Oates, returned from his third tour in Iraq only 50 days ago and said he is working to easing stress on soldiers and their family members who have faced a seemingly revolving door of deployments since 2001.
“What we’re trying to do is help everybody receive this stress and deal with it better,” Oates told reporters. “And there’s a lot of room for growth there.”

Next Iraq, Afghanistan rotations announced

By Michelle Tan - Staff writerPosted : Thursday Jul 16, 2009 9:00:21 EDT
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/army_deployments_071409w/
The Defense Department announced Tuesday the next major units tapped to deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq beginning this fall.
The announcements affect 37,500 soldiers — 30,000 to Iraq and 7,500 to Afghanistan. However, these upcoming rotations are part of regular deployments and will not change the overall number of troops in each theater, according to DoD.
To Afghanistan
About 3,800 soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, Ky., will deploy to Afghanistan in late fall. The brigade returned from its last deployment, to Iraq, in November 2008.
About 3,700 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, of Vicenza, Italy, will deploy in the winter. The unit has completed two tours in Afghanistan, the most recent ending in August 2008.
Both brigades will conduct full spectrum operations in Afghanistan.
To Iraq
About 30,000 troops — in three division headquarters and eight BCTs — will deploy to Iraq beginning in the fall. Units will continue deploying into early 2010, according to the DoD.
The headquarters units deploying are from the 3rd Infantry Division, of Fort Stewart, Ga.; 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; and 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.
These division headquarters will provide command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support security operations in Iraq.
The following three brigade combat teams will replace units already on the ground and they will be tasked with conducting full spectrum operations:
• 1st BCT, 1st Armored Division, of Fort Bliss, Texas. The brigade returned from its last Iraq tour in February 2007.
• 1st BCT, 10th Mountain Division, of Fort Drum, N.Y. The unit returned from its last Iraq deployment in November 2008.
• 2nd BCT, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, which completed its last Iraq tour in November 2007.
These four BCTs will serve in an advisory and assistance role, and their mission will be to train and mentor Iraqi Security Forces, conduct coordinated counter-terrorism missions and protect ongoing civilian and military efforts in Iraq, according to the DoD announcement.
• 3rd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, of Fort Benning, Ga., which returned from Iraq in June 2008.
• 2nd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, of Fort Stewart, which came home from Iraq in July 2008.
• 1st BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, of Fort Stewart, which completed its last Iraq tour in April 2008.
• 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. This unit came home from Iraq in February 2009.
In addition, the 53rd BCT from the Florida Army National Guard also will deploy. Its mission will be to conduct security force missions, including base defense and route security. The 53rd originally had been tapped to deploy to Afghanistan, but was re-missioned to serve in Kuwait and Iraq.