U.S. soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division prepare to search a room during Operation Mountain Sweep in Afghanistan, conducted in August 2002.
82nd Airborne Division
Soldiers: 5,000
Home fort: Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Deployed to: An official Army statement said the soldiers are deploying to "support the global war on terrorism."
Units: The division's 2nd Brigade, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, a quick-reaction brigade combat team that has more than 4,000 soldiers, was ordered to deploy on January 12, 2003. Also ordered to deploy were 18th Airborne Corps support elements consisting of the 35th Signal Brigade and 525th Military Intelligence Brigade. Other 82nd Airborne units are in Afghanistan.
Duties: The 82nd Airborne's traditional role is speedy insertion -- typically via plane and parachute or by helicopter -- of soldiers on or near a battlefield.
