THE EXTENSION...

The top Army command in Europe says a final decision on extending 1st Armored Division soldiers in Iraq has been made. Details, however, aren’t being released.

A spokeswoman for Gen. B.B. Bell, the chief of U.S. Army Europe, said soldiers and family members were being notified Wednesday through family support networks and command channels.

“The families and soldiers have been notified of the status of 1 AD. However, we are awaiting the official announcement from Washington,” Lt. Col. Jane Crichton said Wednesday.

“We expect an announcement shortly,” she added, declining to elaborate.

Indeed, we family members have been notified. The notice says, in part

The commander. US Central Command has requested, and the Department of Defense has directed that soldiers of the First Armored Division remain in Iraq for up to an additional 90 days. Redeployment through Kuwait will add an additional amount of time to the total deployment.

Watch for a press release from the Pentagon today.

UPDATE: Guess it has already happened.

The bulk of the retained force consists of combat troops: 14,300 from the 1st Armored Division (including an attached aviation unit) and 2,800 from the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Filling out the list are smaller supporting elements, including three units of engineers totaling 1,150 soldiers; an air ambulance crew with 130 members; an aviation company with 114 troops; 70 military police, and 20 surgical workers.

In addition, officials said, 12 transport companies and one maintenance company will be kept in Kuwait. Each company has about 150 troops...

Pentagon officials have raised the possibility that the next rotation of forces into Iraq, currently planned to start in September and run through January, could be moved up to sustain the higher troop level after the current extensions end.

And note that last paragraph...