Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, said goodbye to their loved ones here Sept. 16 as they embarked on a seven-month deployment to Ramadi, Iraq.

The infantry battalion will take over for 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, II MEF (Forward), to assist Iraqi Security Forces as Iraqis continue to assume a more prominent role in the area of operation.

“Our mission is to transition the (Iraqi Police) and security forces in training and support,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Charles McMillan, the platoon commander of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. “The goal is to put an Iraqi face on every mission so they will see it as their own.”

The battalion’s effort is part of the larger mission of coalition forces gradually handing over their responsibilities to ISF, McMillan added. The battalion’s last deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June-October 2006 provides a wealth of experience in combat operations. Many of the unit’s noncommissioned officers will count this as their second or third deployment.

“We have a pretty good amount of experience in the battalion,” McMillian said. “Some of our NCOs have already worked with foreign police or military before. While some say the language barrier is an issue, it’s really not that difficult (to adapt).”

The battalion’s last nine months involved training in operations they will employ in Ramadi, such as patrolling and clearing buildings. McMillan said he has total confidence in his Marines’ ability to accomplish any task they encounter. But for the Marines leaving today, the hardest part seemed to be getting past saying goodbye to families.

Lance Cpl. Brian N. Burnett, a rifleman with Co. A, left his close-knit family knowing it will be his first holiday season away from his hometown in Alabama.

“I’ll be away for the first time during Christmas and for my 21st birthday,” Burnett said. “But I feel good about this deployment because we trained all year and went to Mojave Viper, and basically my job will be to be the eyes for my squad.”

Burnett’s mother said goodbye to him and described what she plans to do to make the separation easier before he boarded one of the buses.

“I’m very active online and look on Marines.com and Motomail to stay in touch with him and know what he’s doing,” she said. “I’m definitely going to write letters and constantly send care packages.”

While some families discussed how they plan to cope with their Marines’ call to duty, others said goodbye without saying much at all.

Cpl. Justin Owens, a motor transport mechanic on his second deployment with the battalion, exchanged very few words with his wife as they hugged each other for the remainder of time they had together.

“Of course we’ll do the letters, pictures and communication thing,” Owens said, still holding his wife, who had tears in her eyes. “I think the absolute hardest part is the last moment right before you say goodbye and get on that bus.”