Fifty percent of the Army's combat forces are in the reserves.

"None of them have asked for any combat forces at all," said one Administration official.

But where the job is to coordinate those groups into the effort of a larger combat force, there are likely to be problems.

In times of war they can also be used as a combat force to secure rear areas if needed.

I'll see you have a place with the combat forces right away, of course.

Up to one half of the 23,000 troops being pulled out 2012 are combat forces, he said.

And death rates among combat forces were not significantly higher than in the Navy.

Out in the field are the commanders of the combat forces.

The combat force was to be made up of three brigades.

But he refused every suggestion to send American combat forces.