Oklahoma soldiers deploying to Afghanistan

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) – Members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard took part in a ceremony at Fort Sill yesterday ahead of their deployment to Afghanistan.

The unit deploying is Battery B, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery, 45th Fires Brigade. Some soldiers with the 171st Target Acquisition Battery and the 120th Forward Support Company are deploying in a support role.

The unit is scheduled to replace another unit that has spent the past nine months producing indirect support to coalition forces using artillery rocket systems.

The soldiers will be deployed for no more than one year. The unit will attend pre-mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas before leaving for Afghanistan.