Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2009

In 2009, the United States and NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition, alongside with Afghan National Army forces, continued military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. 2009 marks the eighth year of the War in Afghanistan, which began late in 2001.

United States


This task force rotates between the 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups. The 7th Group, commanded by Col. Sean Mulholland, replaced the 3rd Group in late July 2009. The task force is partnered with six Afghan commando units.
 * Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan

However, other U.S. special operation forces also have deployed to Afghanistan. Units that have deployed in the past have included elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Navy SEALs, units from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, squadrons from the Army's covert 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta, commonly known as Delta Force, air commandos from the Air Force Special Operations Command and Marines from the Marine Special Operations Command. CIA paramilitary teams also have served in Afghanistan.

Special operations units from coalition countries have also served in Afghanistan, including members of the British Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS), troopers from the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), Germany's KSK (Kommando Spezialkraefte), and soldiers from Canada's Joint Task Force Two (JTF2). In 2005, and again in 2009, elements of the New Zealand Special Air Service was deployed to Afghanistan. Soldiers from Sweden's Särskilda Skyddsgruppen (Special Protection Group) have served in Afghanistan and two SSG troopers were killed by a roadside bomb in late 2005. Norwegian Special Forces units also have deployed to Afghanistan.


 * 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (Col. James Johnson)

The 173rd relieved the 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division in December 2009. It is responsible for Wardak and Logar provinces as part of Regional Command East. The brigade has combat experience in Afghanistan from two previous deployments and includes the following units:


 * Headquarters and Headquarters Company
 * 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
 * 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment
 * 173rd Special Troops Battalion
 * 173rd Support Battalion


 * 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Col. Randy George)

The 4th BCT, known as Task Force Mountain Warrior, is responsible for Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar and Laghman provinces in eastern Afghanistan. It relieved the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, or Task Force Duke, which had been conducting operations in the area for the past 15 months. The 4th BCT includes the following units:


 * 1st Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment (Currently under the operational control, or OPCON, of Task Force Kandahar)
 * 2nd Battalion 12th Infantry Regiment
 * 3rd Squadron 61st Cavalry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 704th Brigade Support Battalion
 * 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion

Based at Fort Lewis, Washington, the 5th SBCT deployed approximately 4,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in mid-summer 2009. Part of the brigade is deployed to Zabul province as part of Task Force Zabul. This is the first rotation to Afghanistan for one of the U.S. Army's new Stryker brigades and includes the following units:
 * 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division (Col. Harry Tunnell)


 * 1st Battalion 17th, Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment
 * 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment—Forward Operating Base Wolverine, Zabul province
 * 3rd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment
 * 402nd Brigade Support Battalion
 * 572nd Military Intelligence Company
 * 562nd Engineer Company
 * Company A, 52nd Infantry Regiment
 * 21st Signal Company
 * Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th SBCT

Based at Fort Richardson in Alaska, the 4th BCT relieved the 4th BCT of the 101st Airborne Division in March 2009. The brigade is responsible for Paktya, Paktika and Khost provinces. Known as Task Force Yukon, the 4th BCT includes the following units:
 * 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Col. Michael L. Howard)


 * Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 4th BCT
 * 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment
 * 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
 * 725th Brigade Support Battalion

About 3,300 paratroopers from the 4th BCT deployed to western and southern Afghanistan in August 2009. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 4th BCT includes the following units:
 * 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Col. Brian M. Drinkwine)
 * 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
 * 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment
 * 782nd Brigade Support Battalion
 * 508th Special Troops Battalion


 * Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan/'Task Force Leatherneck' (Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson)

MEB-Afghanistan absorbed the former Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan in southern Afghanistan on May 29, 2009, reflecting the Marine Corps portion of the increased U.S. troop commitment to Afghanistan. Headquartered by the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, MEB-Afghanistan includes the following units:


 * Regimental Combat Team 7 (Col. Randall P. Newman)
 * 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment


 * Marine Aircraft Group 40 (Col. Kevin S. Vest)
 * Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362
 * Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772
 * Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169
 * Marine Attack Squadron 214
 * Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352
 * Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2
 * Marine Wing Support Squadron 371


 * Combat Logistics Regiment 2 (Col. John W. Simmons)
 * Combat Logistics Battalion 8
 * 8th Engineer Support Battalion


 * 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion


 * 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion


 * 2nd MEB Headquarters Group


 * Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division (Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti)

The headquarters of the 82nd Airborne Division relieved the 101st Airborne Division's headquarters on June 3, 2009. Consisting of roughly 1,000 soldiers the 101st's headquarters officially became Combined Joint Task Force 82 and now commands NATO’s Regional Command East sector in Afghanistan.

The 45th, based in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, relieved the 101st Sustainment Brigade on February 9, 2009. The brigade is responsible for the Joint Logistics Command and is augmented by an Army Reserve unit and a unit from the Maine Army National Guard.
 * 45th Sustainment Brigade (Col. Clay B. Hatcher)


 * Headquarters and Headquarters Company
 * 45th Special Troops Battalion
 * 524th Combat Service Support Battalion
 * 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Army Reserve
 * 484th Movement Control Battalion, Maine Army National Guard

The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) deployed approximately 2,800 soldiers to Afghanistan in the spring of 2009. The deployment is part of the buildup of combat forces in Afghanistan and the brigade relieved the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. Known as Task Force Pegasus, the brigade is based at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. The 82nd CAB includes the following units:
 * 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Col. Paul Bricker)


 * Headquarters and Headquarters Company
 * 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment (Attack Reconnaissance), flying AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters
 * 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment (Assault), flying UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters
 * 3rd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment (General Support), flying CH-47F Chinook helicopters
 * 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (Attack Reconnaissance) flying OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters
 * 122nd Aviation Support Battalion


 * 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard (Col. Scott Thoele)

The 33rd BCT is currently the headquarters of Task Force Phoenix, which is in charge of training the Afghan National Army. The 33rd deployed in the winter of 2008, relieving the 27th BCT of the New York Army National Guard. The brigade includes 1,600 soldiers from Illinois augmented by volunteers from Arkansas, Guam, Georgia and Oregon and soldiers from the Inactive Ready Reserve. The 33rd includes the following units:
 * 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment
 * 33rd Special Troops Battalion
 * 634th Brigade Support Battalion
 * 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment, Pennsylvania Army National Guard


 * 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard (Col. Lee Durham)

The 48th Infantry BCT deployed to continue training the Afghan National Security Forces. The 48th IBCT includes the following units:
 * Headquarters and Headquarters Company
 * 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
 * 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment
 * 148th Brigade Support Battalion