Bridget Dowd/KJZZ

25 Arizona National Guard soldiers were deployed at a ceremony Sunday morning.

The Arizona National Guard held a deployment ceremony in Phoenix Sunday morning. 25 soldiers are headed first to Fort Hood in Texas and then to the Middle East.

The 158th Military Engagement Team will be split between Jordan and Kuwait for about 10 months, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Major Pete Caffrey has been deployed three times before — twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. This time he'll be in Kuwait.

“We’ll be engaging with militaries of that region," Caffrey said. "We have relations with other militaries and it will be our job to keep those relationships going strong.”

Caffrey will be leaving behind a wife and two children. His son Lucas is 3 years old and his daughter, Grace, is 1 year old.

“That’s the part that stings the most, but my wife understands it," he said. "We have a plan and we’re ready to get this started and get it done and come back.”