Departure event held for Iraq-bound Soldiers from Norfolk - June 1, 2011

Family, friends and members of the community bid farewell to Soldiers from the Norfolk-based A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment as the unit began its tour of federal active duty June 1. Soldiers from A Troop are joining Soldiers from units based in Christiansburg, Fredericksburg, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Suffolk to form Task Force 183, 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.