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TUCSON - Members of the Arizona Army National Guard from around the state say goodbye to loved ones Sunday to head off to Afghanistan.

Army National Guard Sergeant Lauren DeVita says the 37 members of the air-attack unit will first head to Fort Hood, Texas for additional pre-deployment training and then leave Friday for Afghanistan.

The soldiers come from not only Tucson, Marana, Sierra Vista, Vail and Sahuarita in Southern Arizona but also from Casa Grande, Anthem, Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, San Tan Valley, Scottsdale and Sun City.

Their mission will be to provide aerial coverage for ground troops.

Sgt. DeVita says this will be the second deployment for this unit. The first was in 2007-2008.

The unit will be assigned to the 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as part of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

News 4 Tucson's Erika Flores is talking to the soldiers deploying. Stay tune to News 4 Tucson at 10pm for more on this story.