Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Christine Peterson Scott, left, shows off her U.S. Army mom ring next to her youngest daughter, Pfc. Chassidy Scott, 19, as Amanda Sewell takes a picture of them Sunday morning at the Louisiana National Guard. Scott gave her mom the ring after graduating from basic training in January. Two weeks after graduation, Scott found out she would be deployed to Afghanistan as a medic with the 756th Area Support Medical Company.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Spc. Harry James repeats the Soldier's Creed Sunday morning at the departure ceremony for the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Christine Peterson Scott, left, embraces her daughter, Pfc. Chassidy Scott, 19, Sunday morning before her departure to Fort Hood, Texas, for pre-deployment activities. Scott, who graduated from basic training in January, will be deployed to Afghanistan with the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Pvt. Jonathan Bibbins holds his daughter, Jordyn, 2 months, Sunday morning during the departure ceremony for the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company. Bibbins' fiance, Aimee Hall, right, joined him in the ceremony.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis J. Sapp, right, shakes hands with Staff Sgt. Larry Parnell Sunday morning as the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company loads buses bound for Fort Hood, Texas. The company will spend about one month in Texas before deploying to Afghanistan.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Next to a crowd of family and friends, Louisiana National Guard soldiers, from left, Maj. Stephen Kay, his son, Landon Kay, 5, Lt. Annette Patin, Spc. Mark McDougall and Sgt. Bobby Blankenship salute members of the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company as they drive away in buses Sunday morning. The company will spend about one month in Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying to Afghanistan for about nine months.

Advocate staff photo by LIBBY ISENHOWER -- Sgt. Joseph Schiro, center, hugs his wife, Meghan, and daughter, Abigail, 5 months, before boarding a bus bound for Fort Hood, Texas. Schiro and his company, the Louisiana National Guard 756th Area Support Medical Company, will deploy to Afghanistan after a month of pre-deployment activities in Fort Hood.