The USA Today investigation found three of the 20 U.S. Army combat brigades currently serving in Iraq did not have time before deployment to receive advanced IED defense training at Fort Irwin's National Training Center or either of the two other training facilities before they were sent to Iraq, the newspaper said.

However, USA Today said most of the Soldiers who did receive the training did so without armored vehicles, electronic equipment and other materials used in combat to survive the threat of IEDs.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Mattis told Congress during September confirmation hearings for his appointment as head of the U.S. Joint Forces Command that all Marines and Soldiers are prepared when they are sent into combat, but acknowledged that "units are challenged in their readiness by equipment needs… and (lack of) time to train."

He said the equipment is not available for training because the military has only enough of the materials for actual combat operations.

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