Ill. National Guard unit set to deploy

SPRINGFIELD -- An Illinois Army National Guard brigade will take over training of Afghan security forces from a New York guard unit next week.

The Illinois guard said Thursday that the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will officially take on the responsibility Dec. 19 from the New York Unit, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Almost 3,000 soldiers from the 33rd Infantry Brigade have been training and moving into Afghanistan over the past few months. They will be in Afghanistan until late 2009.

The guard says this is the largest overseas deployment of an Illinois Army National Guard unit since World War II.