http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/13/fort-carson-combat-troops-head-kuwait-4k-will-beco/print/4K combat troops head to Kuwait, will become region’s largest U.S. ground force
By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times - Friday, February 13, 2015
More than 4,000 soldiers from Fort Carson, Colorado's 3rd Brigade Combat Team are headed to Kuwait. Once there, they will become the largest ground force in the region.
"We are absolutely ready for this mission," the brigade's commander, Col. Greg Sierra said at a deployment ceremony, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported Friday. "We are prepared for any contingency. [...] In the end, if we do get into fights, we win decisively," he added.
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team's deployment ceremony comes just two days after President Obama sent his authorization for use of military force (AUMF) to members of Congress. The plan would grant U.S. presidents the ability to dispatch a range of military assets for the Islamic State fight until 2018.
"If we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of ISIL leaders and our partners didn’t have the capacity to get them, I would be prepared to order our special forces to take action," Mr. Obama said Wednesday.
The U.S. Army has kept a brigade in Kuwait since 2011 and recently began using those soldiers to help train allies for battles against the Islamic State group, the Gazette reported.
Soldiers with 3rd Brigade Combat Team will head to the region with tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
