The United States currently has about 30,000 military troops in Afghanistan, and has plans to withdraw down to about 10,000 non-combat troops by the end of 2014. These troops still live in an environment where care packages from home are very much appreciated. There are about 250,000 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines serving in the Mideast, Africa and other foreign countries in 2014. The volunteers of Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas continue to support our troops with care packages.
Below are a couple of quotes from recent articles that point out the serious mission of American forces working with fewer resources and fewer personnel across large distances in Afghanistan.
Stars and Stripes Article, Aug. 30, 2014
"Afghanistan is still a war. There's still a fight going on. We're drawing down; the enemy is not," (Command Sgt. Maj.) Yeargan said.
"In addition to a larger mission, the soldiers will go without many of the comforts some have grown used to on deployments. Fewer hot meals, less connectivity to the outside world and even a lack of laundry services are some of the conditions the brigade can expect."
"That scope of responsibility will be the biggest difference on this latest deployment. It will be working with fewer forces, but those forces will be spread much further."
"But small bases that once served as refueling points for helicopters no longer exist, further complicating the logistical difficulties."
Boston Globe article, Sept. 7, 2014:
"He said the insurgents had launched 788 attacks in the past three months in Sangin (southern Afghanistan) and in two neighboring districts, Now Zad and Kajaki."
