JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — A Washington National Guard battalion is set to deploy to Kuwait this weekend in support of the final year of the U.S. military’s work in Iraq
The News Tribune reports the 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment is saying goodbye on Saturday at a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. About 180 aviators and support personnel are expected to be part of the deployment.
They are stopping at Fort Hood for a few months before heading to Kuwait in the spring. The battalion is expected to return to Washington early in 2012.
American forces are scheduled to leave Iraq by the end of this year.
The 1st Battalion previously deployed to Iraq from May 2007 to May 2008. It flies and maintains Blackhawk helicopters.
