![\"82nd](\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6010155-460x259.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
After increasing rumors regarding a deployment of U.S. Army troops being in progress, new reports now mention that senior U.S. officials are indeed considering it. According to the New York Times<\/em><\/a> and The Washington Post<\/em>, officials are considering the deployment of the Immediate Response Force (IRF) to the Middle East as part of Operation Epic Fury<\/a>.<\/p>\n The IRF is built around a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the 82nd Airborne Division plus supporting\u00a0U.S. Air Force assets<\/a>, and can deploy within 18 hours of notification without prior warning. The Washington Post<\/em>, in a report published on Mar. 24, 2026<\/a>, said the order to deploy is \u201cexpected in the coming hours.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pentagon is planning to deploy a brigade combat team from the Army\u2019s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, according to two U.S. officials.<\/p>\n A written order to deploy the unit, made up of roughly 3,000 soldiers, is expected in the\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Additionally, according to Fox News<\/em>\u2019 Jennifer Griffin, the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, has already been ordered to deploy along with his headquarters staff. A number of flights was already tracked from Pope Army Airfield<\/a>, North Carolina,\u00a0to the Middle East in the last day.<\/p>\n Fox News has learned that the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division Maj Gen Brandon Tegtmeier and his \u201ccommand element,\u201d members of his headquarters staff, have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East as the Pentagon and White House weigh whether to send the 82nd Airborne\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Pope is one of the airfields serving Fort Bragg, the home of the 82nd Airborne Division. It is important to note, however, that Pentagon and CENTCOM officials denied to comment about the reports, and it is not possible to verify whether elements of the unit have left the U.S.<\/p>\n The 82nd Airborne Division is based at Fort Bragg, part of Pope Army Airfield.<\/p>\n We have seen a large number of flights from Army Airfields over the past week, with four flights from Pope Army Airfield making their way across the atlantic in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n I imagine we will\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/i8o5rjXEId<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZaSLhA7Te8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Armchair Admiral The 82nd Airborne Division is the U.S. Army\u2019s premier rapid-deployment force, and forms the core of the Immediate Response Force (IRF). The IRF is built around a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the Division plus supporting\u00a0U.S. Air Force assets<\/a>, and can deploy within 18 hours of notification without prior warning.<\/p>\n The 82nd Airborne Division has three BCTs, each including 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. The Division is completed by the 82nd Division Artillery, the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade.\u00a0<\/p>\n At any given time, a BCT is maintained at the highest alert level, with one of its battalion ready to move within the 18 hours mentioned earlier. The remainder of the force is moved in the following hours.<\/p>\n The U.S. Air Force plays a big part in the deployment, with its transport assets<\/a> being a critical component in the rapid move of large numbers of soldiers. Although the IRF is made of paratroopers, that does not mean that the rapid deployment would include a combat drop once at the arrival in the Middle East.<\/p>\n In fact, troops will be staged at a forward location, ready to move in case the order comes. The mission which will be assigned to the IRF is not yet clear, although there is speculation about a possible employment together with the Marines to capture Iran\u2019s Kharg Island.<\/p>\n Things have been moving rapidly in the last few days. As we reported in our latest update<\/a> about Operation Epic Fury, multiple additional assets are on their way to the Middle East.<\/p>\n Among them are 24 additional F-16CM Block 50 Fighting Falcons from Misawa Air Base, Japan, and Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, which reached the Middle East after crossing the Atlantic Ocean and stopping at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Six EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft similarly deployed with a midway stop at Lajes Airfield in the Azores.<\/p>\n Another day of EGUN tankers moving USAF \u201cSW\u201d and\/or \u201cWW\u201d F-16 from ETAD to the Middle East. BOBBY Crew today likely moving 3 flts of 4x F-16.<\/p>\n Also in motion to the Middle East with VINYL61 are the remainder of the E-2D that had arrived at Aviano AB last week from LPLA.#AE035D<\/a>\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QvKTGAYZVr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aux OSINT (@AUX_OSINT) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The island base also saw the arrival of five\u00a0E-2D Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control<\/a>\u00a0(AEW&C) aircraft, which later flew to Aviano AB, Italy, before the last leg of their transfer. All these assets arrived in theater by Mar. 24.<\/p>\n In the night between Mar. 23 and 24, a number of F-35C Lightning II of the U.S. Marine Corps arrived at RAF Lakenheath, in the UK. A total of ten aircraft are expected to arrive at the British base before continuing their travel for what could be a land-based deployment.<\/p>\n #USAF<\/a> United States Air Force \u2013 Coronet East<\/p>\n Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x#AE0264<\/a> 60-0355 \u2013 GOLD 83<\/p>\n + MAZDA 31-35 Flt 5x F-35C<\/p>\n Five U.S. Marine Corps F-35Cs as MAZDA 31 flt inbound RAF Lakenheath, supported by GOLD 83.<\/p>\n This will be the first time ever that F-35Cs have\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Armchair Admiral The F-35C is the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, used on the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The variant is already being employed in Operation Epic Fury as it is also part of the USS Abraham Lincoln\u2019s (CVN 72) Carrier Air Wing.<\/p>\n Another assets that has arrived at RAF Lakenheath is the AC-130J Ghostrider<\/a>, with one aircraft arriving in the UK after a stop at Keflavik\u2019s airport in Iceland. The AC-130J has not yet been employed over Iran, according to the U.S. Central Command\u2019s (CENTCOM) updates, thus the aircraft would be a new addition to the capabilities already deployed.<\/p>\n #USAF<\/a> United States Air Force<\/p>\n 16:51 \u2013 HEEL 51 1x AC-130J Ghostrider, inbound RAF Lakenheath from Keflavik, following HEEL 55. Working Lakenheath Command Post on 313.575, no Mode-S. https:\/\/t.co\/Ont0Fx6aDa<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f1ec-1f1e7.png\")
(@ArmchairAdml) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nImmediate Reaction Force and 82nd Airborne Division<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/9531768-706x471.jpg\")
<\/a>Latest updates<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
(@ArmchairAdml) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n