WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Five U.S. Army National Guard brigades have been ordered to go to Iraq and Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, the Pentagon announced Monday.

    Among the troops, 8,000 will go to Iraq and the rest 7,000 will leave for Afghanistan, it said.

    The troops sent to Iraq is expected to conduct a security force mission, including base defense and route security.

    In October, eight other Guard brigades were alerted for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    They are scheduled to begin deploying in summer 2008 in rotations that will continue into early 2009.

    The demand for active-duty troops in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the supply, forcing the Pentagon to use the Guard and other reserve troops.