ST. PAUL, Minn. — More than 120 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are preparing for a yearlong deployment that includes a training mission in Afghanistan.

The 257th Military Police Company was scheduled to ship out Monday to Fort Bliss, Texas. They’re expected to be there for a few weeks before heading overseas.

A Minnesota Public Radio report says their mission will be to train members of the Afghan National Army to operate a prison.

Capt. Troy Hyland commands the company. He says even though the mission is a training mission, the deployment still carries risks. But he also says the soldiers are well-trained and they know what they’re doing.

The deployment will be the first for about two-thirds of the soldiers in the company. They’re scheduled to return to the U.S. next spring.