US XVIII Airborne Corps

The XVIII Airborne Corps of the US Army is the corps of the Army designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world. As of 2003, it consists of some 88,000 soldiers in four divisionss.

The corps was first activated as the XI Armored Corps at Camp Polk in Louisiana, 17 January 1942, then redesignated as XVIII Corps 9 October 1943, and became the Airborne Corps on 25 August 1944, as part of the preparation for Operation Market Garden. General Matthew B. Ridgway commanded the corps, which then consisted of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division.

The corps has participated in a number of operations since then:

• Operation Power Pack - Dominican Republic, 1965
• Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada, 1983
• (fill in rest later)

As of 2003, the corps is headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and consists of these units:

• 3rd Infantry Division
• 10th Mountain Division
• 82nd Airborne Division
• 101st Airborne Division
• XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery
• 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
• 18th Aviation Brigade
• 20th Engineer Brigade
• additional smaller units

In addition, it is "aligned" with several US National Guard divisions.

External links

• XVIII Airborne Corps homepage
• Global Security info on XVIII Airborne