Topeka ? An additional 2,100 active duty soldiers at Fort Riley have received orders to deploy as the United States readies for a possible war with Iraq, Fort Riley officials said Tuesday.

About 2,100 soldiers, including the remainder of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and additional troops from the 937th Engineer Group received orders to deploy in support of Central Command operations. Spokeswoman Christie Vanover said the soldiers were previously on alert.

“We anticipated that it could be coming, so it really wasn’t a surprise,” Vanover said.

The latest Fort Riley deployment is in addition to 2,400 soldiers who were ordered to deploy in February, Vanover said. More than 1,000 of those initially deployed have left the post.

“At the speed at which they are leaving, there have been no public farewell ceremonies,” Vanover said. “They just report and leave.”

Soldiers are making final checks of their gear for nuclear, biological and chemical protection, Vanover said. Briefings for family members have been ongoing but were canceled Tuesday because of weather.

Soldiers from the Army's First Battalion, 41st Infantry dressed in desert camouflage, make their way through the falling snow at Fort Riley as they prepare to board for a bus for their deployment to Kuwait.

This is the largest deployment from the central Kansas Army post since the 12,000 soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division shipped out for duty as part of Operation Desert Storm.

Meanwhile, between 400 and 500 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division are preparing to deploy to South Korea for a training exercise.

Approximately 150 soldiers already have left Fort Riley for the mission, which was scheduled before recent tensions between the United States and North Korea escalated, Vanover said.

Fort Riley is home to more than 10,000 soldiers. Despite the deployments, Vanover said the soldiers and civilian employees at the post were training Reservists and supporting the 12,000 active-duty family members staying behind.