In just two days some soldiers with the Idaho Army National Guard will be leaving the comfort of home to serve in Afghanistan.
They've been anticipating a deployment for some time, but now that it's happened, they're gearing up for the task before them.
Thursday, we learned 16 men will deploy from here; eight of them this Sunday, the rest will follow in January.
The Idaho soldiers will be the military's look-out- their role now more important than ever, as President Obama announced sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.
"It's all an attempt to prevent our soldiers from being attacked," Lt. Col. Tim Marsano of the Idaho National Guard said.
The group will be in Afghanistan for ten months, piloting C-12 military aircraft rigged with electronic surveillance equipment.
They'll also be on board and in charge of finding potential Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, on the ground.
"It really gives the ground commanders eyes on the situation that they may not have had before. So what our folks are doing by flying these planes operating this video equipment and transferring it to these commanders on the ground, really extends their eyes and ears," Lt. Col. Marsano said. .
IEDs are a top danger to troop safety.
According to the Department of Defense, of the 13 Americans that died this month overseas, 4 were caused by IEDs.
"I think to this point everybody understands that improvised explosive devices are probably the most significant threats or one of the most significant threats- both to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq," Lt. Col. Marsano said. .
The group does not immediately head to Afghanistan. They'll have orientation at Fort Benning in Georgia first, then train at Fort Hood in Texas.
The deployment brings sad news for soldier families this holiday season but Lt. Col. Marsano says the men are ready to go.
“This is a continuation of a very long cycle where Idahoans are contributing to these overseas contingency operations in support of United States and coalition forces," Lt. Col. Marsano said.
The group is from Detachment 35 of the Operational Support Airlift Command.
Eight of its soldiers will be busy packing this weekend.
They leave from Gowen Field early Sunday morning.
