It's one thing to be a member of a National Guard unit ordered overseas, but it is quite another to volunteer to be a member of a group that will defuse roadside bombs.

When the call went out for volunteers for a one-year deployment in Afghanistan, more Illinois Army National Guard soldiers stepped forward than required for the mission. The soldiers who were selected, 14 combat engineers and an intelligence officer, will find and defuse roadside bombs and analyze enemy patterns to prevent further casualties.

The soldiers to be deployed, members of the Decatur-based Headquarters Support Company of the 766th Engineer Battalion, gathered with family members and well-wishers for a deployment ceremony Saturday afternoon at the National Guard Armory in Decatur. The soldiers will spend a month training at Fort McCoy, Wis., followed by 11 months in Afghanistan.

It's easy to forget about the sacrifices soldiers are willing to make for their country. The willingness of the members of the first Explosive Hazards Coordination Cell to pull hazardous duty in Afghanistan is just the latest example.

Their courage and dedication to their country is inspiring.