North Carolina soldiers deploying to Iraq, Kuwait

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- A ceremony was held at Hope Community Church in Raleigh Thursday morning to send off more than 180 members of the North Carolina Army National Guard to Iraq and Kuwait.

The soldiers will be supporting Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. They are members of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, based at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and 2-130th Aviation Operations Battalion, based at Simmons Army Airfield on Fort Bragg.

Victoria Hoffman and her son Koda Ferrell came to the deployment ceremony to support Specialist Julia McDonald who is heading overseas for about a year.

"She's not gonna be there for his first birthday and it's frustrating but I know that she's going to do really good and I'm proud of her," said Hoffman.

"I wasn't born into this country so just the love and support that I've gotten from America and Americans makes me passionate for this country," said McDonald.

"The soldiers are trained to conduct and oversee aviation operations, air traffic control, reconnaissance and security, air assault and air movement, attack and combat service support missions," according to a news release from the North Carolina National Guard.