WASHINGTON, 09 March 2022, (TON): Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby has said that Secretary Austin ordered the deployment from the United States of an additional approximately 500 U.S.  military personnel to locations in Europe to augment U.S. forces that are already in theater.

These additional personnel are being positioned to respond obviously to the current security environment caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. 

And certainly, to help reinforce and bolster deterrence and defense capabilities of the NATO alliance.

These as all the other ones we’ve talked about in recent weeks are not permanent moves.  They are temporary moves.  And we’re going to adjust our posture continuously as conditions require. 

And as President Biden has noted before, we are not and will not send forces into Ukraine.

So, these additional personnel will be going to NATO’s Eastern Flank.  Specifically, we’ll be sending a number of KC-135 refueling aircraft out of Fairfield Air Force Base in Spokane.  They will deploy with approximately 150 personnel. 

They’re scheduled right now.  They’re planned right now to deploy to Souda Bay, Greece to provide additional area or fueling support to the commander of U.S.  European Command.

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