Soldiers from the Sweetwater-based National Guard unit will leave around 9 a.m. Sunday for Camp Shelby, Miss., for final training for deployment in Iraq early next year.
Guardsmen are slated to come home Dec. 21-27 for Christmas through scheduled block leave in the middle of their training.

The troops will then go back to Camp Shelby for a few more weeks of training before heading to Iraq for the bulk of the year.
According to Army regulations, soldiers are responsible for their own transportation to and from destinations while they are on leave.
Camp Shelby is a 900-mile round trip from Sweetwater.

Jim Lindsey, who serves as the Armory commander at home while the troops are in Iraq, said two buses have contracted to go pick the soldiers up at Camp Shelby, bring them home and take them back again to Mississippi after Christmas.

Although units of the Tennessee National Guard are free to accept unsolicited donations from private entities and/or individuals, Joint Ethics Regulations 3-210 strictly prohibits the direct or indirect solicitation of money or services by units, and/or unit-sponsored support organizations, while within their official capacity.

Private individuals, corporations or associations can raise funds for the National Guard and fundraising efforts are under way to help soldiers get home for the holidays.
You may donate to "Bring the Guard Home Campaign" at any Volunteer Federal Bank branch, said Volunteer Federal Bank official Charlie Robbins.
Robbins said the goal is to raise $10,000 to pay for the buses.

"Every little bit helps," he said.
The Advocate & Democrat newspaper will donate $5 for every one-year subscription (new or renewal) sold from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14 to help the soldiers get home for the holidays.
Lindsey said about 77 soldiers will leave from the Sweetwater unit and will be joined by soldiers attached from other 278th National Guard units for a total of about 130 soldiers leaving out from Sweetwater Sunday.

Lindsey said the Sweetwater Fire Department plans to display its large American Flag over the highway Sunday to honor Guardsmen while the Sweetwater Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol will provide an escort with the THP scheduled to lead the buses to the Georgia state line.
For many of the troops, it will be their second tour of duty in Iraq after having served in 2004-05.
Staff Sgt. Mark Stratton of Madisonville is representative of many of the soldiers who will leave their families for a year to serve overseas.

His wife, Tiffany, and children Shawn, 13, Brooke, 10, and Jake, 7, will be missing him.
"Just tell everybody thanks for their support," Stratton said. "We really appreciate it."

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101