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100 Arkansas guardsmen headed to Afghanistan

9:13 AM, Jun 25, 2012   |    comments
US Marines from Kilo Company of the 3rd Battalion 8th Marines Regiment patrol along with Afghanistan National Army (ANA) soldiers in Kalinoum village on June 23, 2012. (Getty Images)
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JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - About 100 members of the Arkansas National Guard will soon deploy to Afghanistan on a mission to clear bombs from roads.

The soldiers are from the Guard's 875th Engineer Battalion, 1039th Engineer Company. The Jonesboro Sun reports (http://is.gd/fDww0h) that it's the third time members from the 875th have been called on such a mission.

The company is based in Harrisburg. Officials say the soldiers will leave this week to begin two months of training before heading to Afghanistan.

In 2006, the entire battalion was sent to Iraq for 18 months. Officials say members found more than 1,200 explosive devices during that mission.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)