ARCADIA, Fla.- About 131 soldiers bid farewell to their families Saturday morning as they boarded buses in Arcadia and head out for deployment.

The National Guard unit will head to Qatar for a year-long deployment.

They last deployed to Iraq in 2005.

Families members gathered for hugs and well wishes as their loved ones boarded the buses.

The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office escorted the buses as they left town.