Fort Lewis troops deploying

SEATTLE – Not many of Kyle Roeter’s classmates at Bellevue High School joined the military. After graduation in 2003, many went to the University of Washington or out-of-state colleges. But seeing the country heading into war, Roeter decided to join the Army – at West Point.

Five years later, the West Point graduate has learned he’s going to Iraq in his first tour of duty.

“I’ve been sitting on the sideline for the past five years,” Roeter said Tuesday. “I feel that if our nation is at war, I signed up in the Army to get deployed, to help in the conflict.”

The 23-year-old is one of the nearly 10,000 soldiers from Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma, who will deploy to Iraq between this winter and next summer. On Tuesday, the Defense Department announced the massive deployment, which includes the I Corps headquarters unit and the 3rd and 5th Stryker brigades.

Overall, the planned deployments involve about 26,000 troops and would maintain 14 combat brigades in Iraq from about February to early autumn. But the decisions do not rule out potential changes.

This will be the first deployment for the recently formed 5th Stryker brigade and the third for the 3rd Stryker brigade, said Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr., commanding general of I Corps.

Even as violence in Iraq has plunged in the past year, cautious Pentagon leaders have resisted public and congressional calls for more rapid and hefty troop pullouts. Instead, top commanders insist the security situation remains fragile and the improvements reversible.

Tuesday’s move would allow the U.S. to keep the number of troops largely steady in Iraq through much of 2009.

The deployment marks the first time in more than 50 years that the I Corps headquarters unit has deployed in support of combat operations, Jacoby said.

“But it’s nothing new for many of its soldiers” who have deployed in the past six years, Jacoby told a news conference.

Between 29,000 and 30,000 soldiers are assigned to Fort Lewis, said Joe Piek, a base spokesman.

“The courage and commitment of the men and women who serve our country so selflessly is inspiring. They have the gratitude and praise of their families, communities and fellow citizens,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.

Roeter, now a 2nd lieutenant in the 5th Stryker brigade, said he feels ready to go to war. He’s in charge of about 40 soldiers and three Stryker vehicles.