Soldiers of the XVIII Airborne Corps arrive in Wiesbaden, Germany, in support of NATO allies, Feb. 4, 2022. (Credit: US DOD / Army Spc. Joshua Cowden)

By  Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

WASHINGTON  DC  –   PENTAGON  –  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin has ordered the deployment of about 10,500 military personnel to replace Army units ordered to the region in advance of, and in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon announced.  Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby told reporters at a press briefing Friday that in the coming months the U.S. troops will deploy to Europe, replenishing  forces ordered there earlier this year.  Kirby stressed that these forces are not going to Ukraine, but are there to ensure the defense of NATO countries. 

“These deployments are a one-for-one unit replacements, which leaves our overall force posture in the region – approximately 100,000 — unchanged.  The units being replaced will return to their home stations following a proper turnover of responsibilities.” 

-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby

Photo by Gary Raynaldo  /  ©Diplomatic Times /  Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby briefs reporters at the Pentagon on the Russia-Ukraine situation in Washington DC. May 13, 2022. 

According to the Pentagon,  the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters, from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will replace the 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters in the European Command area of responsibility. This will involve 500 soldiers.  Also from Fort Campbell, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will deploy approximately 4,200 soldiers to replace the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of Fort Bragg, North Carolina’s 82nd Airborne Division in Poland.  

These are not permanent moves, Kirby said. “They are moves designed to respond to the current security environment,” he said.  

The Pentagon press secretary said the Ukrainians continue to resist the Russian invaders in the Donbas region — Russia’s major push in the region now.   

 “They have prevented the Russians from achieving virtually any of their strategic objectives thus far in the war,” Kirby said. “Now, both sides have taken casualties. Both sides have lost capabilities, whether that’s actual hardware or defensive systems. That’s why we’re trying so hard to make sure that Ukraine continues to have available to it, the materials, the systems, the weapons to continue to defend themselves.” 

In February shortly after Russia’s invasion,   Secretary of Defense Austin  ordered the deployment of 7,000 service members to Germany to enhance deterrence of Moscow forces.   The major unit in the tranche of troops is the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. The troops will be going to Germany “to reassure NATO allies, deter Russian aggression and to be prepared to support a range of other requirements in the region,”   a senior defense official speaking on background said at the time.