More than 700 Nebraska National Guard members will head to either Iraq or Afghanistan this summer, leaving their families behind for one year. They're all training together this weekend, learning how to cope with deployment.

They are citizens in times of peace and soldiers in times of need. Members of the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, along with 500 of their family members, began “Yellow Ribbon” pre-mobilization training Saturday. The two-day event is taking place at the Qwest Center.

For soldiers like Spc. Christine Campbell, the assistance being provided is critical. "I'm a single mother, I have a little girl and so it's very helpful to know all the support for my daughter while I'm gone,” she said. Campbell lives in LaVista but has no family nearby to lean on. Friends will support her when she heads to Iraq, likely in late June.

PFC. Nathan Ridenouer of Millard said, "I've got three little sisters and my parents are here today." All of their questions and concerns about his upcoming mission to Iraq are being addressed.

He added, "They get to kind of get an idea of what we're doing, what we're about to do when we get deployed."

Various seminars are designed to prepare guard members for the stresses they will encounter in the field. Other classes will help families cope with challenges back at home - from finances to communication, and separation.

When guard member Carl Roux heads to Iraq this summer, it will be for the second time. The first time, his wife Jenny was pregnant with their first son. She is due again with their second son May 16th, coincidentally on the couple’s anniversary.

“I'm learning different ways to cope with it, to cope with the stress,” said Jenny. “You know it's going to be different going from one kid to two kids."

Just being away from her husband, she said, will be the hardest part. "He’s not going to be here for the special moments with our children."

They've begun tring to prepare their son Parker, who’s nearly two years old. “He’s a Daddy’s boy,” said Jenny.

"We just make sure that he knows that mommy and daddy love him and that no matter where Daddy is, Daddy always thinks about him and is always there for him, no matter if it's a phone call or an e-mail."

With the support of family, Jenny said they will manage. “We have to keep family things going here and give our children a normal life and do the normal things the way they keep going, that way we can keep our soldier going."

The “Yellow Ribbon” training continues through Sunday.