Two Georgia National Guard units are deploying to Afghanistan.

The 248 soldiers will hold a departure ceremony Tuesday at 9a.m. in the Neal Fitness Center at Fort Gillem. They will spend a year overseas after six weeks of training at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The units are from the 1177th Transportation Company based in LaGrange and the 1148th Transportation Company in Fort Gordon. They are part of the 265th Regional Support Group.

Georgia National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski says the units' mission will be to provide security along perimeters and entry control points in Afghanistan. He said about more than half of the soldiers in the units have already served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Tags: Iraq, Georgia National Guard, Fort Bliss, Texas, Afghanistan, La Grange, Fort Gillem, Neal Fitness Center, 1177th Transportation company, Lt. Col Ken Baldowski