National Guard Deployment to Send 90 Area Soldiers to Middle East

Family, friends and elected officials are gathering in Hooksett, New Hampshire to send off two New Hampshire Army National Guard field artillery units as they deploy to the Middle East.

The deployment ceremony takes place Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Southern New Hampshire University Field House in Hooksett.

A total of 90 soldiers from two battalions - Headquarters Battery, 197th Field Artillery Brigade and Echo Battery 197th Artillery Regiment - will report to Fort Bliss, Texas, before heading to the Middle East in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.

New Hampshire National Guard officials say the soldiers will operate in undisclosed locations in the Middle East to provide fire support in the fight to defeat ISIS and conduct training with military partners.

Saturday's ceremony is open to the public.