The phrase "a contingency force" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a military or emergency response unit that is prepared to act in case of unforeseen events or emergencies.
Example: "The government has established a contingency force to respond to natural disasters and other crises."
Alternatives: "emergency unit" or "backup team".
The 82nd is a contingency force, designed to parachute into a theatre of war, seize an objective, and then hold it for up to three days.
Others note that the crackdown comes as the Iraqi government weighs whether to ask the Americans to keep a contingency force in Iraq after the end of the year, when — for now, at least — all United States troops are scheduled to leave.
The paralysis is contributing to a rise in violence, and it is severely complicating negotiations on the most difficult and divisive question hanging over the country: Whether to ask the United States to keep a contingency force here after the scheduled withdrawal of American troops at the end of the year.
"A contingency force of appropriately trained staff will be sent to the border to provide extra help to ensure passengers are processed as quickly as possible.
If notification did arrive, he said, "we have a contingency force".
"The plan involved training a contingency force well in advance of any possible strike to ensure the availability of fully trained and highly qualified personnel to assume security responsibilities if needed," the spokesperson said.
Though he has emphasized that the U.S. will stay in Afghanistan "until the job is done," he wants almost all the US troops out before the end of his first term in January 2013, leaving in place a small contingency force.
In addition to the 13,500 figure, there will be a 1,000-strong 1,000-strongingency force ready for deployment in the event of an "Olympics-related civil emergency".
Officials said Thursday that the deployments are not meant to suggest a buildup to war, but rather are intended as a quick-reaction and contingency force in case a military crisis erupts in the standoff with Tehran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.
The MoD still has another 1,000 troops in reserve - its "Military Contingency Force".
Gates, who is planning to leave his job before the 2012 presidential election, could be referring to that small contingency force with his comments.
