Topeka ? Three members of the Kansas National Guard are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan with an unusual assignment.

The guardsmen are members of the 102nd Military History Detachment. They’ll spend their time in Afghanistan recording the missions of U.S. troops through interviews, photos, and document collections.

Officials say the goal is the preserve the history of Operation Enduring Freedom, including the role of the Kansas National Guard.

A departure ceremony for the three soldiers is scheduled Friday afternoon at the State Defense Building in Topeka. They head next to Fort Dix, N.J., to complete their training before deploying to Afghanistan.