Territorial Army soldiers from across Oxfordshire have said a fond farewell to their families and friends before heading out for a six-month tour of duty in Iraq.

The 25 men from the Royal Green Jackets based at the The Slade, Oxford, were preparing last night (May 17) before flying out from Brize Norton at lunchtime today.

They will be part of the 130-strong Royal Rifle Volunteer Force, which will be based in southern Iraq, near the war-torn city of Basra.

Welfare officer for the Royal Green Jackets, Major Terry Roper, said that the men were allowed two beers before going to bed last night but would be up at the crack of dawn for a briefing at 6.30am.

Once in Iraq they will have just two weeks' leave in the summer to come home and see their families.

After finishing the tour of duty they will also be taken for a two-day debriefing session at a base in Qatar or Cyprus before being brought back to the UK. The men, ranging in ages from 20 to 34, say they are not nervous about what lies ahead after the great training they have had in the last six weeks.

Rifleman Andy Chapman, 34, a BT manager from Sonning Common, joined the TA just 18 months ago.

He said: "We can't be blas about what we're going to be undertaking.

"The hardest thing for myself is I have got two young children and my boy's birthday is in two days time. He's going to be seven."

As well as military training, the group have been taught about Iraqi culture and language.

They have even had a visit from an Imam to talk about religious taboos they should watch out for.

Although the men are geared up to go they are all aware that the next six months will be harder for the families they are leaving behind.

Rifleman Dave Thrower, 31, from Didcot who is a construction manager for TCI in Botley, said: "It's a bit more real now that we're actually going. It was weird saying goodbye to my parents, and my girlfriend was quite upset when I dropped her off this evening.

"It's harder for them because they are just waiting at home all the time."

The men will be taking part in security patrols which they have been trained for over the past six weeks.

Rifleman Leo Midwinter, 26, a computer programmer from Abingdon, is trained to drive an armoured Land Rover. He will be protecting conveys on some of the dangerous roads where attacks from insurgents have taken place.