Pentagon details plans for Afghanistan withdrawal

2/16/2012

The Pentagon has been saying for months it hopes to transition out of a combat role in Afghanistan, but on Wednesday it offered some specifics on how it aims to do so. The focus will be placed on reconfiguring five brigades and one reserve organization to help train and advise Afghan forces, according to The Associated Press.

This new mission will get underway in April and continue through August, Defense Department officials say. Specifically, the plans call for each brigade to cut its assigned number of soldiers in half as they hand over security to Afghan troops. It will very closely resemble the way the U.S. transitioned in Iraq late last year. Additionally, there will be 18-person civilian teams with each brigade to make the process smoother.

"By doing that, we maintain our connectivity to the Afghan forces as we thin out," Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti told reporters recently, according to the AP.

The DoD recently unveiled its proposed budget plan for 2013, and it detailed the spending cuts expected in Afghanistan. According to CNN, this year the DoD spent $115 billion in the country, but next year's budget will be around $88 billion.