Marines Prepare to Deploy

By: Associated Press | WSAV-TV
Published: January 15, 2008

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3,200 Marines being told to prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

PENTAGON (AP) - Military officials say about 3,200 Marines are

being told to prepare to go to Afghanistan in an effort to boost

combat troop levels and get ready for an expected Taliban offensive

this spring.

Once complete, the deployment would increase U.S. forces in

Afghanistan to as much as 30,000, the highest level since the 2001

invasion following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

The military began notifying the Marines and their families over

the weekend, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to sign

the formal deployment orders. It's not clear, however, whether the

orders have been signed.

According to officials, 2,200 members of the 24th Marine

Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, will go

to Afghanistan. So will about 1,000 members of the California-based

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.