RALEIGH -- A deployment ceremony took place Thursday morning in Raleigh for 180 National Guard troops who are heading to Kuwait and Iraq.

They are members of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade and the 2-130th Aviation Operations Battalion who are deploying in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

The soldiers are trained to conduct aviation operations, air traffic control, reconnaissance and security as well as air assault and combat service support missions.       

The 449th is headquartered at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville and the 2-130th is headquartered at Simmons Army Airfield, on Fort Bragg.

The deployment is expected to last up to a year. 

The ceremony took place at Hope Community Church on Buck Jones Road in Raleigh.