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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Half of 278th soldiers face second, third tours in Iraq

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. — Some soldiers with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment know the drill.

They’ve trained in California and New Mexico for Iraq missions. This time, the scenery is just a little more Southern.

Between 50 and 60 percent of the soldiers deploying in February with the Knoxville-based unit are on their second or even third tour to Iraq.

The 278th patrolled the Iraq-Iran border during its 2004-05 deployment. Many of the soldiers now in Mississippi were there.

In 2007, the 1/181st Field Artillery Battalion worked security at Camp Bucca, Iraq, which is jogging distance from the Kuwait border.