NV National Guardsmen deploy to Afghanistan

(AP) - About 400 Nevada National Guard soldiers are being deployed to Afghanistan for a one-year mission.

A deployment ceremony was held Thursday in Las Vegas for some members of the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and U.S. Sen. John Ensign attended the ceremony at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid issued a statement praising the dedication of the soldiers in what is the largest mobilization of the Nevada Guard's signal corps in state history.

A second mobilization ceremony will be held Sunday in Reno for Northern Nevada battalion members who will also deploy.

The troops will first go to Fort Lewis, Wash., for final preparations before traveling to Southwest Asia.