Fort Riley ? Soldiers of the 1st Brigade of Fort Riley’s 1st Infantry Division have begun a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

The units are among the first to deploy to Iraq since President Barack Obama declared an end to major combat operations.

Only part of the brigade is deploying as an advisory and assistance task force in northern Iraq. The soldiers will work with Iraqi forces taking more responsibility for security and governance.

This is the brigade’s first deployment since 2004.