RENO, Nev. (AP) - About 60 soldiers in the Nevada Army National Guard and a fleet of its Chinook helicopters are going to spend most of the next nine months in Kuwait.

The Bravo Company, 1/189th Aviation unit in Reno had planned to leave Thursday following a mobilization ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility near Reno-Stead Airport, but weather forced a delay until Friday.

They're being deployed to an aviation hub in Kuwait where they'll perform missions throughout the region as part of Operation Spartan Shield.

Officials say the CH-47F Chinooks are the workhorse of Army aviation and can transport up to 44 troops or 13 tons (12 metric tons) of cargo.

The unit plans to fly to Fort Hood, Texas to complete pre-deployment training before heading on to Kuwait in a few weeks.

The unit also deployed to Afghanistan in 2012-13.

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