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TULSA Family and friends, along with several distinguished guests, gathered at Union High School in Tulsa to say farewell to soldiers as part of the second rotation deploying to Ukraine.

More than 200 members of the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, are heading to Fort Bliss, Texas to continue with pre-mobilization training prior to going overseas.

Its a pleasure to be here and be part of this ceremony, Brig. Gen. Michael Thompson, assistant adjutant general for Oklahoma, said. The 279 has such a historic reputation in the Oklahoma National Guard and the United States military.

This second six-month rotation for the Joint Multinational Training Group Ukraine or JMTG-U will continue the mission of its sister battalion, the 179 Infantry. Soldiers will assist in the training of Ukrainian Forces in tactical skills such as marksmanship, live-fire exercises and first aid at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center outside of Yavoriv, Ukraine.

The JMTG-U is a strategically significant mission for United States and its allies involving both NATO and non-NATO member nations, Lt. Col. Bruce Lambeth, commander of 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, said. The multinational effort will contribute to Ukraines long-term defense capabilities by providing Partner Advise Training Teams. This is an effort to increase the combat capability of the Ukrainian Army through their training at their combat training center.

For some soldiers and families the deployments can be both exciting and challenging.

My expectation for my soldiers is to get the training they need, and aid and assist the Ukrainian forces that we will be partnered up with, 1st Lt. Zubair Khan, commander of Alpha Company, said. I look forward to taking alpha company forward and doing great things with them.

We are expecting our first child, Khan said, with his wife by his side.

Their daughter is due this summer and Khan is scheduled to return for the birth.

Its difficult, Khan said. The first six months my wife will have to raise our daughter by herself.

Khan explained that he and his wife have a solid support system to help with their child while he is away.

Though with a heavy heart, family members and friends say goodbye to their soldiers, looking forward to seeing them again soon.

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Second unit to deploy for training in Ukraine - Press-leader