TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The first batch of soldiers from Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Brigade has deployed to Afghanistan.

More than 2,000 soldiers from the unit are to serve in east-central Afghanistan, and part of the mission will include combat duty. The first of the troops left Sunday from Camp Shelby in Gulfport, Miss., and it will take about three weeks to get everyone to Afghanistan.

The 45th Infantry Brigade deployed to Iraq in 2008. Maj. Gen. Myles Deering told the Tulsa World that about half of the troops have experience from serving either in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The unit is to spend nine months in Afghanistan.