The United States Army is sending 1,500 troops to Afghanistan in the summer to support Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the Army announced Thursday.

The Army’s Public Affairs office said soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina will be deployed in the summer.

“Since spearheading allied assaults in Sicily and Anzio in 1943, the Devil Brigade has accomplished its missions through disciplined initiative,” Col. Toby Magsig, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division said in the press release. “The same endures today. The ‘Devils in Baggy Pants’ are well-trained, well-equipped, and ready to assist our Afghan partners as part of the Resolute Support mission.”

The soldiers will be replacing troops from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. In the fall of 2016, 1,400 soldiers were deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

“This is a train, advise and assist mission for the brigade,” Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, public affairs officer for the 82 Airborne Division, told Newsweek. “They will be supporting local Afghan forces.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -



There are currently roughly 8,500 American service members in Afghanistan in advise, train and assist missions

On Thursday, two U.S. service members were killed during a firefight while conducting a joint U.S.-Afghan operation in the Achin District of Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan.

[revad2]