Greeneville-based Troop L of the Tennessee National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment will leave Greeneville about 9:50 a.m. this Sunday on the first leg of a journey that eventually will take the unit to Iraq.

A unit spokesman said this morning the approximately 120 citizen-soldiers are scheduled to depart from the National Guard Armory on Hal Henard Road about 9:50 a.m. Sunday by bus for Camp Shelby, Miss., where the soldiers will undergo pre-deployment training.

A smaller detachment of guardsmen will leave the armory about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in a convoy of military vehicles bound for Camp Shelby, the spokesman said.

On Thursday evening, Dec. 3, the citizen-soldiers and their families will gather at the National Guard armory for a Christmas dinner, the spokesman said.

In the meantime, fundraising efforts are continuing by a group of friends and family members of guardsmen to charter buses to bring the soldiers home for a brief Christmas leave.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the effort may do so by mailing a check to:

Troop L Family Readiness Group, 1030 Hal Henard Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.

Donations also may be dropped off at the National Guard Armory on Hal Henard Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call Peggy Jones at 422-7472 or the National Guard Armory at 638-7812.

More than 3,300 soldiers comprise the 278th ACR, which has units across Tennessee.

While in Iraq, the 278th will protect U.S. military convoys, military equipment and other troops, according to Maj. Alan Mingledorff, public information officer

National Guard units from Kentucky and Michigan also will be part of the task force led by the 278th in Iraq.

Maj. Mingledorff said plans currently are for the entire regiment to deploy to Iraq following a Feb. 5 departure ceremony at Camp Shelby.

"The regiment has anticipated the order and conducted individual and collective training for the deployment over the past six months," said Col. Jeffrey Holmes, the 278th's commander, when the unit received mobilization orders last June.

He added, "Our soldiers and families are prepared, and we're ready to get it started. We began this process three years ago and it will be gratifying to have the opportunity to finish the job."

The 278th was last deployed in June 2004.

During that tour of duty, the unit trained Iraqi security forces and assisted with provincial elections.