Photos: Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Thirty-five members of Bravo Company, 1-285 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion deployed from Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday, Aug. 24, destined for Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Jackson Libby, 3, touches the leg of his dad, Company Commander Brendan Libby during pre-flight briefing at Silverbell Army Heliport north of Tucson on Friday. Members of the 1-285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company left for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Pilots Jennifer Languall, left, and Guy Ballard gather their gear in preparation to fly their Apache attack helicopter out of Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. Members of the 285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company left for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Apache helicopters hover in preparation for takeoff at Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. Members of the 285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company left for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Some stay behind at Silverbell Army Heliport and others ahip out to Ft. Hood and Afghanistan on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Apache helicopter pilot Jennifer Languall, right, hugs her husband Ty Languell prior to lifting off from Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. At left is her mother Tammy Winsley and Ty's daughter Madison Languell, 5.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Arizona Army National Guard Airman Benjamin Smith cradles his wife Shamerie as he waits to board the bus for his third deployment in five years, second to Afghanistan on Friday, August 24, 2012. She is seven months pregnant with their sixth child.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
An unidentified couple says their good-byes prior to boarding the bus at Silverbell Army Heliport north of Tucson on Friday, August 24, 2012
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Four Apache attack helicopters head out from Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday enroute to Fort Hood, Texas, where they will be prepared and deployed to Afghanistan.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
One of four helicopters flies over Pinal Air Park on Friday enroute to Ft. Hood, Texas, prior to deployment to Afghanistan.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Steve Trumbell sits in his Apache helicopter awaiting his first deployment from Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. Members of the 285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company left for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Pilot Marco Elsner inspects the rotors of his Apache helicopter at Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. Members of the 285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company left for a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arizona Army National Guard deployment
Sgt Bill Aragon comforts Hope Gallego as her father ray Valencia looks on at Silverbell Army Heliport on Friday. Hope's husband Juan Gallego is an aircraft mechanic and is deploying with members of the 285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion B Company to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
A Marana-based Army National Guard unit is heading to Afghanistan. Thirty-four soldiers from Bravo Company, 1-285th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion left Friday from Silverbell Army Heliport in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.