More than 3,000 troops with the Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade are leaving the Yakima Training Center Thursday.

After a 10-day break they’ll report to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin for advanced training prior to heading to Iraq in October for a 12-month deployment.

The Seattle-based brigade is made up of 2,400 soldiers from Washington and 900 from California.

It’s the second tour for the brigade that also served in Iraq in 2004. The soldiers will provide convoy security and force protection. (AP)