When more than 940 members of the Wyoming National Guard deploy to Kuwait, it will bring the total number of Wyoming Guardsmen serving overseas to 1,298.

"That's like taking a small community out of Wyoming," said Col. Richard Knowlton, commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Fires Brigade, during a recent community meeting.

And it means big impacts for Wyoming families, businesses and communities.

To help mitigate the impacts, Knowlton and other Guard officials are on a weeklong tour of Wyoming towns, meeting with community members, business owners and families. The goal is to explain the deployment and its missions and familiarize people with the support systems available within the Guard.

"I believe it is important to talk to community leaders to inform them of our upcoming mission and to seek their support for our soldiers' families and civilian employers," Knowlton said. "Our mission will only be successful if our support system here in Wyoming is actively engaged and fully informed."

In April, 941 members of the 115th Fires Brigade will deploy to Kuwait for 12 months. It is the largest single-unit deployment ever for the Wyoming National Guard and affects about 38 percent of the Guard.

During the deployment, brigade men and women will perform missions in and around Kuwait and Iraq to ensure coalition forces are protected, properly equipped and adequately housed. They will also be involved in convoy security and "forward operating base," or FOB, management and security.

The week began Monday in Casper when Knowlton and Guard officials spoke with community leaders and families in two separate meetings.

Several specialists are accompanying Knowlton on the tour to educate those who might be affected by the deployment. For example, a behavior specialist will meet with community counselors to talk about behavior issues soldiers might have upon return or families might face during the deployment. Also, other Guard representatives will meet with schools, with employers and other community representatives.

Click below for a Star-Tribune video report by Dan Craig.

Community meetings

All this week, Col. Richard Knowlton, commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Fires Brigade, will host meetings around Wyoming to educate communities about the upcoming deployment of 941 brigade soldiers. All meetings are open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow each presentation.

Here's a list of upcoming meetings:

* Today, Buffalo: 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Library, 171 N. Adam.

* Wednesday, Gillette: 9 a.m. in the City Hall Community Meeting Room; 5:30 p.m. at the Gillette Armory, 811 E. Laramie.

* Thursday, Sheridan: 9 a.m. at Cloud Park Initiatives, 151 Brundage St.; 5:30 p.m. Sheridan Armory, 3219 Coffeen Ave.

* Friday, Douglas: 9 a.m. City Council Chambers, 101 N. Fourth St.; 5:30 p.m. Douglas Armory, 315 N. Person.

Soldier stories

As 941 Wyoming men and women prepare for a yearlong deployment, communities and families are bracing for the impacts of the largest single-unit National Guard deployment in state history.

The Star-Tribune is looking for soldiers, their families and community members to show the faces behind the numbers.

If you or a family member will be deploying, or if your business or community organization will be affected, please contact Features Editor Kristy Gray at 307-266-0586 or email kristy.gray@hotmail.com.