The Washington National Guard sent off a unit during a ceremony Sunday afternoon at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The 111^th Air Support Operations Squadron will serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and will be based in Afghanistan.

The 111^th is headquartered at Camp Murray and is part of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194^th Wing.

"We are extremely proud of the 111th. They are well-trained, experienced and ready to accomplish any mission they are given," said Major General Bret Daugherty, the Adjutant General and commander of the Washington National Guard.

Governor Jay Inslee spoke at the ceremony.

The deployment is scheduled to last about six months, and the unit previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 and 2007.