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thedrifter
12-29-06, 03:12 PM
December 29, 2006
Report: Regimental Combat Teams 5, 7 could be extended in Iraq

By Kimberly Johnson
Staff writer

Two Marine regiments serving in western Iraq could be extended as President Bush considers a possible troop surge to quell escalating violence.

Bush is considering a surge of up to 20,000 additional troops in Iraq, which could be partially achieved by extending Regimental Combat Teams 5 and 7 in Anbar province, The New York Times reported Friday. The RCTs are currently scheduled to leave Iraq in February.

However, military officials would not verify the report.

“In general, Central Command doesn’t comment on troop movements,” said Air Force Capt. Gary Arasin, a CentCom spokesman. “Until the president has made his final determination regarding a way ahead, Central Command forces are continuing operations.”

Both RCTs deployed in February and are slated to return to the U.S. in February 2007.

According to a spokesman for RCT-5, the Marines in theater haven’t been told of a change in plans. “We’re still planning for redeployment,” Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva wrote in an e-mail to Marine Corps Times Friday.

News of the possible extension came as 300 Marines and sailors with the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based RCT-2 headquarters element readied to deploy to Anbar province Saturday.

Marine sources said Friday that the extension report is speculative. However, one analyst said extending existing forces versus surging them would be operationally sound.

“Instead of accelerating the deployment timeline and rushing a unit into theater before it’s completed absorbing its new personnel and training together, you’re leaving a cohesive and tested force in place for an additional period,” said Reserve Lt. Col. Frank Hoffman, a retired Marine infantry officer and senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia.

“It’s harder on the already deployed unit, due to possible morale problems, but it’s usually better than shorting a fairly detailed plan of required pre-deployment training for the in bound unit,” he said.

Ellie