Order Code RS22633
Updated July 15, 2008
U.S. Forces in Afghanistan
JoAnne O’Bryant and Michael Waterhouse
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
As interest in troop level deployments continues, there remains an increase of U.S.
forces in Afghanistan. President Bush announced in a February 15, 2007 speech, the
Administration’s plans for an increase in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, including a planned
gradual increase of 3,200 U.S. troops on the ground. Since the President’s
announcement, there were higher troop deployment levels reported in Afghanistan in
2007 and 2008. This report provides official Department of Defense (DOD) statistical
information on U.S. forces now serving in Afghanistan with comparisons to earlier force
levels. It also provides brief official information on the military units extended or
scheduled for the next rotation of duty into Afghanistan. As of June 1, 2008, according
to DOD, the United States had 48,250 troops stationed in Afghanistan — 37,700 active
component and 10,550 National Guard or Reserves. They are serving in two missions
— a NATO-led peacekeeping mission and a separate U.S.-led combat effort called
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). For security reasons, DOD does not routinely
report the composition, size, or specific destination of military forces deployed to the
Persian Gulf. This report will be updated upon receipt of new DOD data. For additional
information on U.S. forces, see CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War
Governance, Security and U.S. Policy by Kenneth Katzman, and CRS Report RL33503,
U.S. and Coalition Military Operations in Afghanistan: Issues for Congress, by Andrew
Feickert.
Force Levels
As of June 1, 2008, according to the Department of Defense (DOD), the United
States had 48,250 military personnel deployed in Afghanistan. Of these, 37,700 were
active component personnel and10,550 were National Guard and Reserves. Figures 1
and 2 provide the distribution by armed service of active component personnel. These
