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National Guard unit deploys to Afghanistan

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LITCHFIELD, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota National Guard unit is headed to Afghanistan where members will be tasked with clearing improvised explosive devices.

A deployment ceremony was held in the packed Civic Arena in Litchfield Sunday for nearly 100 members of the 849th Mobility Augmentation Co. The soldiers will train for several months at Fort Bliss in Texas before traveling to Afghanistan.

KSTP-TV says the soldiers come from 28 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Many of the soldiers in the unit will be deployed overseas for the first time.

Company commander Capt. Matt Jukkala says the "No. 1 goal is to bring everyone home in the exact condition" as when they left.