Headed on a mission to Iraq, 27 members of the 171st Air Refueling Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard are leaving this week.

In all, 42 members of the security force will head to Baghdad, where they will provide security for major bases, said Lt. Col. Don Accamando, a public information officer at the 171st.

The other 15 members are expected to deploy on Feb. 18.

This is the third rotation for the security forces team, and the deployment is scheduled to last six months. Some members of the team have already been to Iraq.

"This group was different," Lt. Col. Accamando said. "We have a lot of younger folks."

At today's send-off, he noted several babies in attendance whose fathers were leaving. The team also includes several women.