GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — This Friday, 120 soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard are set to embark on a mission to the southwest border, joining forces with federal law enforcement, as the state announced on Thursday.

The 1430th Engineer Company, stationed in Traverse City, will lend their expertise to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in their ongoing operations along the Southwest Border. This deployment is part of a larger initiative coordinated by the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, and their mission is expected to span up to one year.