MANNHEIM, Germany (March 16, 2009) - 5th Signal Command units have been identified for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom for the FY 09 force rotation.

The headquarters element of the 7th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, stationed in Mannheim, Germany, will deploy with approximately 90 Soldiers to Afghanistan in Spring 2009 for up to 12 months as part of the normal rotation of troops. The brigade headquarters will serve as the Joint Network Operations Control Center (JNCC), which is the single control agency for the management of the joint force communications systems.

One of 7th's two battalions, the 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB), also headquartered in Mannheim, will deploy with approximately 500 Soldiers to Iraq in Summer 2009 for up to 12 months. The 72nd will provide communications support to several locations in Southwest Asia using Joint Network Node technology.

7th Signal Brigade's other ESB, the 44th, redeployed from Iraq in December 2008 after serving 15 months in support of OIF.