The 140th Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment unit out of Nevada will deploy to Iraq for the first time. The 12 soldiers each have very specific training, and they're heading into the War on Terror with a unique mission.

Eyewitness News was at the Las Vegas Readiness Center Thursday where friends and family honored the 12 before they deploy this Saturday. The 12-member unit is a small part of a larger brigade here in Nevada.

They are military police, but you can call them guardsmen or just soldiers. But the 12 headed for Iraq have a special name just for themselves. They call themselves the Dirty Dozen.

“One of my favorite movies has been the “Dirty Dozen” with Lee Marvin. He's got an impossible mission. A very, very important mission. He's to hand pick the men that he's going to put on his team, 12 men,” said Lieutenant Corporal Jeff Mark, Nevada National Guard.

Twelve soldiers, hand picked by Mark. Picked for the specialized training each has acquired.

“We have to take care of the enemy. We have to take care of Iraqi civilians. We have to ensure that people are being treated with humanity, humane conditions,” said Lieutenant Corporal Mark.

But there is a skill only one of the dozen can hold. The skill of being a mom.

“It's hard for me to leave my daughter. Her being so little. Her needing me there,” said Specialist Jennifer Rivera.

Rivera is the one mom, the only woman in the Dirty Dozen. Like her comrades, she will say good-bye to a spouse, a child, and dozens of friends. But unlike most of the others in her unit, this is her second deployment to Iraq.

The first time, five years ago, her daughter was only 4-months-old. Now, she hopes, Ariana will understand.

“I just talk to her and tell her that I'm leaving for a long time. That her dad's going to be here for her and that I'll be back and I'll call her,” said Rivera.

They will be gone a year. But as tough as saying 'see you later' may be, everyone seems to know the mission ahead is an important one.

“It's not the most glorious job in the world, but it's probably the most important as far as world peace and security is concerned,” said Mark.

The members of the Dirty Dozen have trained in Nevada together for the last few months. Saturday night they will leave for Fort Dix, in New Jersey. There, they will train for another two to three months before heading to Iraq.

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