82nd Airborne Sending Battalion to Afghanistan
By The Associated Press(09/17/04 - FT BRAGG) — A battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division was told Friday to get ready for rapid deployment to Afghanistan to provide security for the Oct. 9 elections while a larger force of paratroopers still prepares for a spring deployment.
The unit would number between 500 and 1,500 paratroopers and leave Fort Bragg within a week, officials said.
"They're saying it's going to be a short deployment," said division spokesman Pfc. Marshall Pesta. Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment are on quick recall status, required to be ready to return to base in two hours.
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