Oklahoma Guard soldiers prepare to head to Afghanistan

Soldiers from the Oklahoma National Guard's 158th Field Artillery said goodbye to friends and family during the past weekend as they get ready to head to Afghanistan.

Capt. Randall Wright says the Bravo Battery will pick up where the Alpha Battery leaves off.

"I believe our training has prepared us to continue the legacy that was established by all the soldiers that have preceded us," Wright said.

Alpha has been in Afghanistan for the past 9 months.

The 158th gives fire support to coalition forces with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, a truck-based rocket launcher.

Bravo Battery had their deployment ceremony in Lawton on Saturday.

They could be in Afghanistan for as long as a year.