Some of the soldiers said days like Saturday are bittersweet.
"The soldiers are celebrating the commitment they've made, but its also sour. We're going to be spending a lot of time away from our families for the next year," said Capt. Nathan Westby.
"It'll be a long hard year, but a really happy homecoming when he comes home," said Barbara Feudo, whose husband is a soldier.
Saturday's Aurora event was one of three send-offs for 106th Cavalry in Illinois. There were similar deployment ceremonies in Dixon and Pontiac.