In a few months, the 3,400 members of the Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade Combat Team begin their second deployment to Iraq in four years.

The unit recently began months of training at the Army’s Yakima Firing Center, to be followed by further training at Fort McCoy, Wisc., and Kuwait. Instead of its exercises with tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, the 81st Brigade is relearning the use of quicker and lighter armored Humvees and other vehicles to protect supply convoys.

About 70 percent of the troops have served at least one tour in Iraq, while others have done more.

One soldier, a 26-year-old sergeant from Mead, served two tours in Iraq with the regular Army. When the 81st got call-up orders in October, he was told he didn’t have to go but volunteered anyway, despite the fact that he won a $1 million Washington Lottery scratch ticket prize in February. (AP)