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The countdown is coming to a close. Within 48 hours, members of the North Dakota National Guard's 164th Engineer Battalion will be off to Mississippi and then to Iraq for a tour of duty. Today the soldiers were going through the final process of packing up gear and getting ready for Iraq. Perry Olson was there... (Perry Olson) As the soldiers with the 164th sat down for breakfast this morning the feeling was pretty much universal. (Alex Beach - 164th Engineering Battalion) We've been preparing for so long so it will be nice to get on the road. We are ready to move on. A little nervous but excited. (Perry Olson) In less than two days 119 soldiers will begin the first steps of a trip to Iraq as a part of the War on Terrorism. But before they can go there was work to be done. (Paul Strokland - ND National Guard) One of the stations was fitting for IBAS. It is a vest with safety plates that serve as protection for bullets and fragmentation. (Perry Olson) That protection is worn every second while on duty in Iraq and it weighs between 50 and 70 pounds! Quite a load to carry. (Paul) We have had some smaller people where almost three quarters of the weight is the vest! (Perry Olson) While some were being fit for their protective gear others were packing it up for the flight on Thursday. Weighing everything so the exact weight of the plane is known and getting anthrax shots as well. (Paul) It is all about being a team. It is not one person. And by working since January we have learned the strengths and weaknesses so we've really become a family. (Alex) You have to trust the guy next to you and I do just that so it is going to go well. (Perry Olson) They believe that confidence and trust will keep them strong during their entire tour in Iraq as they provide security and try to bring peace to the region. In Minot, Perry Olson, KX News. You can say goodbye to the soldiers and send them away from North Dakota in style by attending a send-off ceremony tomorrow at the Armed Forces Reserve Center north of the airport. It starts at 1pm.