Army National Guard soldiers headed to Republic of Georgia

ATLANTA - Georgia Army National Guard soldiers - some from Gainesville - have flown to the Republic of Georgia for joint military exercises. <br /> <br /> The soldiers are mostly from the metro Atlanta area and flew out on Sunday. They will be part of ``Immediate Response 2008.'' <br /> <br /> The three-week operation also provides practical training for the 48th Infantry Brigade's 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment just months before a pending deployment to Afghanistan. <br /> <br /> Thirty-six-year-old Maj. Matt Smith of Atlanta took over command of 1-121 just last month. The 325 soldiers are from Winder, Covington, Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Milledgeville. <br /> <br /> The Georgia infantry battalion returned from a 12-month tour of Iraq in April 2006 and is scheduled to leave for Afghanistan next summer with the 48th Brigade to train the Afghan National Army.