RICHMOND (AP) – Two soldiers from Hampton Roads are among a group of Virginia National Guard members mobilizing this week before being sent to Afghanistan to train that nation's army and police.

Officials say 16 soldiers in all will depart Thursday to Fort Riley, Kansas, to train for the mission. The soldiers are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in late November.

The team will train and mentor members of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. Training will include logistics, tactics, strategic planning and military decision-making processes.

Eight are coming from the Richmond and central Virginia area, two from the Hampton Roads area, two from the Northern Virginia area, one from the Danville area and one from the Lynchburg area, Guard officials told WVEC.com.

Major General Robert Newman Junior, the adjutant general of Virginia, announced the mobilization in June.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)