Families on Friday honored 280 National Guard troops who are being deployed to Africa for a 10-month mission. The troops leave for Texas on Sunday and will deploy to the Horn of Africa later in October, not returning until next summer. The National Guard said its troops will serve as the closest medical, logistical and security support for embassies and NATO staff operating on the continent. Gov. Tony Evers and Gen. Paul Knapp were some of the speakers on Friday at the sendoff event inside the Miller High Life Theater. Families gathered in the lobby afterward. "Excited, a little bit nervous. Ready to take care of the mission and my guys and get them home safely," said Sgt. Casey Kuehn with the Wisconsin National Guard. "Little nervous, but I have really good family support. My kids will keep us busy and I know he'll be in good hands," said Kuehn's wife, Tina. "More or less, it's kind of me accepting everything. It's kind of been like a huge rollercoaster of emotions and whatnot. Got to the point where I'm pretty ready for it, it's my first deployment," said Sgt. Myatt with the troops. The troops are expected to return from their mission sometime in July or August 2023.