Departure ceremony held for Iraq-bound Soldiers from Christiansburg

Family, friends and members of the community bid farewell to Soldiers from the Christiansburg-based Company C, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment as the unit began their tour of federal active duty June 1. Approximately 130 Soldiers from Company C are joining Soldiers from units based in Fredericksburg, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Suffolk to form Task Force 183 under the command of 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, the largest Virginia National Guard single unit mobilization since World War II. After departure events conducted at those locations, the Soldiers will consolidate at Fort Pickett, then travel to Camp Atterbury, Ind., where they will train for 45 to 60 days prior to deploying to Iraq. Once they arrive, they are scheduled to conduct convoy security and base defense operations in support of Operation New Dawn, and the mobilization is scheduled for one year. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia Department of Military Affairs)

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