3rd Infantry soldiers begin trek to Kuwait

FORT BENNING - About 350 soldiers from Fort Benning left Monday for a long trip to Kuwait. <br> <br> The members of the Army&#39;s 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) were bused to Robins Air Force Base about 6:30 p.m. to board planes for the Persian Gulf. The entire division of about 17,000 soldiers and support staff eventually will be in the region. <br> <br> One brigade is already in Kuwait, and troops from the other two brigades -- one from Fort Benning in west Georgia and the other across the state in Fort Stewart -- began leaving today. Flights are scheduled to start leaving Hunter Army Airfield near Fort Stewart around ten. It is unclear when the first flights would leave Robins. <br> <br> The soldiers&#39; duffel bags and rucksacks were stacked against the walls of recreation center as they signed paperwork and were weighed -- wearing their gear and weapons -- to make sure they wouldn&#39;t overload the plane. Some carried bags with night-vision goggles. Others carried backpacks full of comforts from home that won&#39;t be available while they are overseas. <br> <br> None of them know how long they will be gone or how dangerous this mission will be.