More than 350 soldiers with the Tennessee National Guard 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment  left from the volunteer training site in Smyrna yesterday. They are eventually heading to the Middle East in support of operations throughout the region.

“We have spent the last year training under unique circumstances,” said Lt. Col. Phillip Hill, Jr., 1-181st Battalion Commander. “The soldiers of this battalion have displayed an ability to step up and meet every challenge. I am 100 percent confident that they will continue to do so as we mobilize and deploy.”

The 1-181st, headquartered in Chattanooga with units in Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, Fayetteville, and Dayton, will be at Fort Bliss, Texas, for a few weeks to complete additional training.

Originally constituted in 1916, the 1-181st has participated in multiple conflicts to include World War I, World War II, Desert Storm, and the recent war on terrorism in the Middle East. Currently, they are organized under 30th Troop Command, headquartered in Tullahoma.