FORT HOOD, Texas-- Select elements of the Texas Army

FORT HOOD, Texas-- Select elements of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division bid farewell to family and friends in a deployment ceremony held here, May 31, on Fort Hood's Cameron Field. The Soldier will soon deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel where they will provide training, advice and assistance for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, as well as the Afghan security institutions in order to promote the long-term success of the Afghan National Defense Security Forces and the sovereignty of the Afghan government. This mission will mark the first time a National Guard unit will take command of a regional command, from an active duty component, in Afghanistan within a combat environment.