Nevada Army National Guard unit heading to Afghanistan

CARSON CITY — A Nevada Army National Guard unit is headed to Afghanistan, the first of five Guard units set to deploy in coming months.

A mobilization ceremony will be held Tuesday in Las Vegas for the 30 soldiers of the 3665th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company’s 10-month mission in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.

The Henderson-based 3665th is the Nevada National Guard’s only explosive ordnance disposal unit and the deployment is its first.

EOD soldiers specialize in defusing unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction.

The Guard said the 3665th is its first unit to embark on a combat deployment in three years.

The Guard said soldiers from four aviation and combat sustainment support units also are set to deploy this year to Asia, Europe and Africa.