MOUNTAIN HOME – Soldiers at Gowen Field have been training to be deployed to Iraq but after President Obama’s announcement of a troop surge they know their destination may change.

Captain Christopher Borders of the 116th Brigade has been preparing for deployment.

Simple Arabic greetings all the way to casualty and medical evacuations have been practiced in preparation for Iraq.

However, now that 30,000 more troops are headed to Afghanistan by Christmas, Idaho’s soldiers know that might be their destination as well.

Lt. Col. Tim Marsano says wherever they go our soldiers are prepared.

"Whether our soldiers go to Iraq or Afghanistan has really no baring on the type of training that we are giving them to deal with any situation that they may encounter," Marsano said.

He also said they may expand their cultural teachings to cover Afghan practices but other than that the 116th has more that three months of accelerated training under their belts.

For many in the 116th if they get mobilized this will be their second tour in Iraq - their second time away from their families.

"We've been through it before," Borders said of his family.

For Borders, the year-long deployment is much better than the previous 18 months, especially when he has a baby on the way.

If the mobilization goes into effect, more than 2,000 soldiers will go overseas.