That will decline to two combat brigades - 6,000 to 10,000 soldiers - over the next year or so.

Individual combat brigades would not have been under such constant operational stress.

It takes around a year at home to prepare a combat brigade for Iraq.

A reduction of eight combat brigades would equal about 28,000 troops.

The reduction in American combat brigades would have an importance beyond troop numbers.

Of the 15 combat brigades now in Iraq, only one is from the Guard.

He sought a commitment that all five combat brigades would be sent.

Four of those additional combat brigades are ready for deployment.

A combat brigade normally consists of 4,000 or so soldiers.

It would require having more than 50 combat brigades, as the Army did at the end of the cold war.