Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Mountain Warriors,” gathered with their families in Woodford County for a departure ceremony before mobilizing for Southwest Asia. Gov. Andy Beshear and Col. Steven Engels addressed the troops and their families before the deployment. Engels told the soldiers they had trained for the mission and urged them to take care of one another during the months ahead. The 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry has deep roots in Eastern Kentucky, making the deployment particularly significant for families and communities across the region. Source: WKYT #AppalachiaInsider #KentuckyNationalGuard #MountainWarriors #EasternKentucky #Kentucky #Military