Minnesota soldiers prepare to deploy

Soldiers from the 644th Regional Support group based at Fort Snelling, Minnesota are heading to Afghanistan.

The mission is to mentor and train those serving in the Afghanistan army. The teams will work in three locations, the Religious and Cultural Affairs School, Bridmal Sergeant Major Academy and National Military Academy of Afghanistan.

Many of the 25 soldiers in this group have been deployed before. They say it is toughest on the loved ones left behind.

The group will be gone for about a year.

Royal Navy prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

British Royal Navy personnel are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in April. Able and Leading Medical Assistants will provide support for 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines.

The Military Training Unit (MTU) at the Royal Navy base in Torpoint is providing Navy personnel of all ranks and rates, including medical staff, intensive pre-deployment training.

The Royal Navy is playing a key role supporting operations in Afghanistan. Elements of 845, 846, 847 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons are among the units currently deployed as part of Operation HERRICK 13 to provide airborne surveillance, troop movement and control capabilities.

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British Commandos prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

3 Commando Brigade, supported by 7th Armoured Brigade prepare to take over operations in Afghanistan from 16 Air Assault Brigade in April 2011.

As the next brigade to take on the role of Task Force Helmand, personnel have been intensively training, preparing for the unique challenges that Afghanistan presents.

Training on Salisbury Plain is one of the final preparations that the force will make before deployment in April 2011. Training has been ongoing for some 18 months and has already involved troops undergoing specialist training in facilities as far and wide as Germany, Borneo, Canada, the USA and Kenya.

About 1,500 relatives and friends of Royal Marines from Plymouth-based 42 Commando were addressed this week by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Murchison, at the unit's base, Bickleigh Camp.

42 Commando are sending 650 personnel to Helmand in the next few weeks. They are just one element of 3 Commando Brigade which is deploying to Afghanistan for the third time.

US 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Div. ready to deploy to Afghanistan

The U.S Army's 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team marked the start of its year long deployment to Afghanistan with a ceremony Friday 4th March.

The unit's 3,500 soldiers will spend a year just west of Kandahar and know exactly what to expect.

"This will be a tough fight," brigade commander Col. Patrick D. Frank said. "This is the spiritual homeland of the Taliban, so our soldiers are ready for that type of fight."

The brigade will be relieving the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, based out of Fort Campbell, Ky.

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New York Army National Guard prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Soldiers from a New York Army National Guard unit will be sent to Afghanistan to help train and fight with that nation's military forces.

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U.S 742nd SMC prepare to deploy to Afghanistan

Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- The South Carolina Army National Guard's 742nd Support Maintenance Company said goodbye to family and friends during a departure ceremony on Friday.

The event was held at the National Guard armory off of Bluff Road in Columbia. 

More than 120 soldiers will depart on Sunday to Fort Hood, Texas where they will have one month of final pre-deploying training before leaving for Afghanistan.

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