Drum unit will deploy this fall

FORT DRUM — The 10th Mountain Division's headquarters unit will deploy to Afghanistan this fall. The unit received formal deployment orders from the Department of Defense last week, according to Maj. Frederick C. Harrell, a division spokesman.

A previous projection had put the deployment date for the unit in spring or fall 2011, but the formal order makes the date more concrete.

The division headquarters includes about 1,000 soldiers, but it's not clear yet exactly how many of those will deploy, Maj. Harrell said. That, and other aspects of the deployment, will be determined in the weeks and months ahead.

"Our mission and area scope of responsibility will be determined by the needs of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) commander, and that will help drive our preparations," Maj. Harrell said.

The unit is trained for a command and control function.

"The 10th Mountain Division has continuously supported overseas contingency operations since 2001, and we are well versed in command and control operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," Maj. Gen. James L. Terry, 10th Mountain Division commander, said in a press release announcing the deployment order.

The division headquarters deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, 2003 and 2006. Its most recent deployment was to Iraq in 2008, where it served as the headquarters for Multi-National Division South, returning home last May.

The 3,500 soldiers of the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq in the fall. The division's 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed one battalion to Afghanistan in January and is preparing the remainder of its approximately 3,500 troops to deploy this spring as part of the 30,000-troop increase authorized by President Barack Obama on Nov. 30.

The 10th Mountain Division's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade is expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the fall as well.