NC National Guard aviation soldiers deploying

RALEIGH — About 120 soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard’s 449th Theater Aviation Brigade are preparing to deploy to work with the 10th Mountain Division in Iraq.

The guard held a farewell ceremony Thursday in Raleigh for the soldiers in the brigade’s Headquarters Company.

Soldiers in the unit are trained for reconnaissance and security, air assault and air movement, attack and combat service support missions. The National Guard says the unit will provide command and control for aviation units sent to Iraq.

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