A Tribute To The Troops: Honoring Those Who Served In Afghanistan

Since the United States went to war in Afghanistan in 2001, between 1.9 and 3 million US service members have served in the country. The number of troops in Afghanistan spiralled to 100,000 in 2010, then dropped to below 10,000. Over the course of the 20-year conflict, more than 775,000 US service members deployed to the country at least once, with many serving multiple tours of duty.

Between 1.9 and 3 million US service members have served in Afghanistan since 2001

Since the United States went to war in Afghanistan in 2001, between 1.9 and 3 million US service members have served in the country. This number includes those who have served in Afghanistan as well as Iraq, with over half of them having been deployed more than once. The US military presence in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, with troop levels reaching a high of 100,000 in August 2010 and dropping to about 9,800 in March 2015. As of July 2016, the US planned to maintain a force of about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through the end of President Obama's term in January 2017.

The US service members in Afghanistan come from various military branches, including the Army, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. The Army has deployed the most troops, with over 491,500 soldiers serving in Afghanistan, including active-duty forces, Army reservists, and National Guardsmen. The Air Force has deployed the second-most, with about 123,000 airmen involved. The Marine Corps deployed about 20,000 service members during the height of the war in 2010 and 2011, with over 114,000 Marines serving overall.

The impact of the war in Afghanistan extends beyond those who served on the front lines. Many times more Americans have felt the costs of war as spouses, parents, children, and friends cope with the absence of their loved ones, mourn their deaths, or struggle to adjust to the changed persons who often return from combat zones. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been particularly difficult for military families, with more frequent deployments and shorter periods at home.

Many veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars face physical and psychological injuries that can lead to long-term disability. Over 1.8 million veterans have some degree of officially recognized disability as a result of their service in these wars. Veterans of these wars account for more than half of the severely disabled veteran population. In addition, many veterans live with physical and emotional scars that are not officially recognized or acknowledged.

The impact of the war extends beyond the individual veteran to their families and communities. When service members return home injured, it is often their families who provide care, even when veterans are hospitalized in military facilities. This offloading of care responsibilities onto families and community organizations has been an express part of military planning. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have also led to elevated rates of suicide, mental illness, substance abuse, car crashes, homelessness, divorce, and child abuse within the veteran population.

Over half of the service members deployed more than once

The War in Afghanistan was the longest war in US military history, lasting from 2001 to 2021. Over this period, between 1.9 and 3 million US service members were deployed to Afghanistan, with over half of them deployed more than once.

The war was a response to the September 11 attacks, with the US demanding that the Taliban extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The Taliban refused, and the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom, invading Afghanistan and declaring war on terror. The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive, which re-established the Islamic Emirate.

The human cost of the war was immense. It resulted in the deaths of an estimated 176,000–212,000+ people, including 46,319 civilians. The war also caused mass displacement, with 2.6 million Afghans remaining refugees and another 4 million internally displaced by the time the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

For US service members, the war was a gruelling experience, with frequent deployments and short periods at home. Many returned with physical and psychological injuries, leading to high rates of suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependence, and homelessness. Their families also bore the costs, coping with their loved ones' absence, mourning their deaths, or welcoming home a changed person.

The financial cost of the war was also significant. The US spent an estimated $2 trillion on the war effort, and the long-term costs of caring for veterans will continue to accumulate.

The war in Afghanistan shaped a generation of US service members and policymakers. It was a conflict that evoked strong emotions, from initial feelings of optimism to a sense of the US mission's unrealistic nature. The withdrawal of Western forces and the collapse of the Afghan government left many with a sense of failure and remorse for those left behind.

Despite the sacrifices made, the war's legacy is complex. While al-Qaeda was driven out and the lives of many Afghans improved, particularly women, the Taliban ultimately regained control. The war's outcome will weigh heavily on the collective conscience, prompting reflection on what could have been done differently.

The Army deployed the most troops to Afghanistan

The US Army deployed the most troops to Afghanistan. Over the course of the 20-year conflict, more than 775,000 US service members deployed to the country at least once, with more than 491,500 of them being soldiers from the Army, including active-duty forces, reservists, and National Guardsmen.

The US Army accounted for the bulk of the 2.77 million service members who served on 5.4 million deployments across the world since 2001. In total, the Army contributed 58% of the 3.1 million troop-years of experience. According to the RAND Corporation, 1.33 million individuals deployed with the Army between 2001 and 2015, with around 225,000 soldiers deploying at least three times or more.

The US Army was the first to deploy to Afghanistan in 2001, with 1,300 troops on the ground. By March 2002, there were 7,200 US troops in Afghanistan, leading allied Afghan forces in the largest ground assault of the war. Troop numbers continued to increase, with 100,000 troops in the country by August 2010.

The US Army also played a key role in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, with troops scouring the mountainous Tora Bora region in December 2001. Bin Laden was eventually found and killed in a US special operations raid in Pakistan in May 2011.

The Air Force deployed the second most troops

The Air Force's involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001, with the US and British troops striking Afghanistan for harboring the al-Qaida terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The initial phase of the war involved US air strikes on al-Qaida and Taliban forces, with the first wave of conventional ground forces arriving twelve days later. The Air Force played a crucial role in providing air support and conducting missions throughout the conflict.

The Air Force's missions in Afghanistan declined steadily from 2011 to 2015, stabilizing thereafter. In 2021, the final year of the US mission, the Air Force registered 2,600 missions, with 372 involving the use of weapons. These missions included combat operations, transportation of troops and supplies, and support for ground forces.

The Air Force also had a presence at several military bases in Afghanistan, including Bagram Air Base, Shindand Air Base, Kandahar International Airport, and Camp Dwyer. These bases served as hubs for Air Force operations and supported the overall US military effort in the country.

The Air Force's contribution to the war in Afghanistan was significant, providing airpower, logistical support, and ground forces to the conflict. Their persistence, even as troop numbers decreased, demonstrates the service's commitment to the mission and their vital role in the overall US strategy in Afghanistan.

The Marine Corps deployed about 20,000 service members at the height of the war

The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in US history. It began in 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and ended in 2021, after the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country.

The Marine Corps deployment was part of a broader US military effort that saw between 1.9 and 3 million service members serve in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. More than 775,000 US service members were deployed to Afghanistan at least once, with about half of all US veterans of Afghanistan serving one deployment, and 28,267 deploying five or more times.

The war in Afghanistan was a massive military undertaking that involved significant numbers of US troops and resulted in thousands of casualties and wounded service members. The Marine Corps deployment of about 20,000 service members at the height of the war was a significant contribution to this overall effort and reflected the intensity of the conflict during this period.

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