Oklahoma soldiers gear up for 6-month deployment to Ukraine

BRAGGS, Okla. (AP) – Hundreds of Oklahoma soldiers are now training in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Ukraine.
The Oklahoma National Guard says members of the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are now conducting pre-mobilization training at Camp Gruber near Braggs.
The guard says about 250 members of the 179th will spend Thanksgiving at home, then head to Fort Bliss in Texas for additional training before deploying for six months to Ukraine. Next year, soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment will deploy for six months to Ukraine.
The guard says the soldiers will primarily focus on training Ukrainian forces.