Fort Riley ? Soldiers from the Army’s 1st Infantry Division are hitting the books in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.

Members of the division’s 4th Brigade are spending time in the education center on post to learn Arabic. Soldiers are learning in groups of 40 how to speak basic phrases that will help them communicate with Iraqi security forces and residents.

By the end of the two-week course, the goal is for soldiers to also be more aware of Iraqi culture, history and traditions.

The brigade deploys this summer.