The Army today announced it had formalized its decision to permanently station the Stryker brigade in Hawai'i, officials said.

The decision, which has been expected for months, ends questions about the long-term location of the $1.5 billion fast-strike unit, whose 4,000 soldiers and 325 Stryker vehicles are deployed to Iraq.

Although the Army in 2001 decided to base one of the units in Hawai'i, and proceeded with more than $700 million in construction projects, a federal appeals court ruled in 2006 that the service had not adequately examined alternative locations.

Bases in Alaska and Colorado were examined before the Army in February said Hawai'i was the "preferred" location, and today announced it has made the decision permanent.

The Army said Hawai'i was selected primarily because it is best able to meet strategic defense and national security needs in the Pacific.

"Stationing the (Stryker brigade) in Hawai'i sends a powerful signal to our friends and our enemies that we are committed to U.S. interests in this vital region," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific headquartered at Fort Shafter.

Mixon added, "We know that Hawai'i has limited space and beautiful natural resources. We will continue to protect them."

Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman, deputy chief of staff of the Army, said he made the basing decision in part because the U.S. has vital interests in the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia, and defense directives call for a reorientation of forces to the region.

The 19-ton, eight-wheeled Stryker armored vehicles are the most advanced weapon system used by any country in the southeastern Pacific Rim, the Army said, and as such, it can "provide a dominant force for contingency deployments such as our commitment to the defense of Taiwan, Japan and South Korea" and deter sanctuary for terrorist organizations in Southeast Asia.

Stationing Stryker brigades in Alaska and Hawai'i provides "strategic flexibility" to deploy two Stryker brigades simultaneously, if necessary, the Army said.