More than 240 soldiers with the Florida National Guard were joined by their families at a ceremony at Cecil Field on Monday morning as they prepare to deploy to Iraq.

The 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment heard from the state's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw, before they get ready to leave this week.

"You know the mission. You have prepared for it well, and you will now be performing that mission a long way from home," Titshaw told them.

The soldiers are leaving for Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn and will provide aerial support.

To do so, they must leave family and friends behind.

"I've got a great support system of friends and family, and we'll do what we need to do at home so they can do what they need to do over there," said Kelly Sullivan, whose husband, Aidan, is deploying.

"She's in good care with her family and friends, and these guys take care of me as well. So we're mission ready," Aidan Sullivan said.

Most of the soldiers will head to Fort Hood, Texas, on Wednesday for about a month's worth of additional training, then will travel to the Middle East for about a year. Six Black Hawk helicopters will fly out Tuesday.

"I'm anxious for it to get started so it can be over," Kelly Sullivan said.

Charles Crawford said two of his children are being deployed.

"It's pretty scary, but they work intelligence corps, so it's not like they're infantry," he said.

And Sgt. Trevor Lloyd is returning to Iraq.

"Mixed emotions. First leaving the family -- that's the sad part of it," he said. "But I am excited about leading my troops into battle."

"It is my first deployment. We have a lot of support," Sgt. Lisa Furry said. "That's my whole family sitting behind me. And the unit I'm going with, the soldiers I'm going with are very well-trained. I know that any situation we get into, we've got each other's back."

About 15,000 Florida National Guard members have been mobilized in the past 10 years, both in the U.S. and overseas.