About 2,400 U.S. soldiers from around Florida are preparing for deployment.

Before they leave, they are put through rigourous training to prepare them for what they may encounter overseas.

Eyewitness News got an inside look for some of that training at Camp Blanding near Starke, Florida.

As real as it looks and sounds, the soldiers are not in combat.

But, they will be soon and their training at Camp Blanding is preparing them.

PFC Charles McCanon said, "There's always butterflies. It's my first one. But other than that, I'm pretty excited about it, pretty amped up; just ready to go."

PFC McCanon is from Tallahassee and is a part of Charlie Company First Battalion of the 153rd Infantry.

The battalion is among the 2,400 soldiers in Operation Fall Classic deploying to Kuwait in January.

Over the past year, they've mastered markmanship, battle drills that test their reaction to ambushes and explosive devices and how to secure and evacuate casualties.

Ryan Hovatter with C/1-153rd Infantry said, "The big thing about this training here is we got all the gear on. We got the body armor vest, our protection, the helmet. Sometimes we shoot with the pro-mask. That's the gas mask. So, we're getting practice with it."

Their mission is to guard transportation routes, and protect convoys and facilities throuthout Iraq and Kuwait.

Tallahassee native SGT John Walker has done it all before in Afghanistan in 2005, but this time it's different.

"I have a kid now. I'm leaving him behind this time and not just the wife. So, having a whole year away from them that's going to be a little hard." He said.

Although they're all leaving family behind, soldiers say it's a mission they're proud and ready to do.

The brigade is scheduled to arrive in Kuwait in late January and stay for a year.