FORT LEWIS - The newest Stryker brigade is heading to Iraq a month earlier than expected at the request of the president. Monday was the official send-off for the troops.

It's a brand new unit and they're going to handling a lot of firsts: first to field the new Stryker mobile gun system and first to use the high-tech Land Warrior system.

Some of these Stryker soldiers are veterans, having been to Iraq several times. Others will be seeing their first action. But now they're all melded into one unit, the 4th Stryker Brigade.

The brigade wasn't supposed to leave for another month. But President Bush ordered them up early as part of his troop surge in Iraq. So they intensified their training.

"I tell you, I am totally confident of going and being able to execute any mission they give us," said Brigade commander Col. Jon Lehr.

They'll be the first to operate all 10 options that come with the Stryker, including the mobile gun system.

They'll also be the first to take the Land Warrior high tech communication system into combat. The display screen in their helmets keeps track of everyone’s location.

And they'll also be the first to bring 100 soldiers who've gone through months of language classes so they can mingle with the Iraqis.

But what it all comes down to is people, the soldiers and their families.

"This is my 3rd deployment, 2nd to Iraq and of course it's always difficult," said Capt. Dan Rausch. "But because (my family is) so strong for me and they help me out so much, it makes it a lot easier knowing my wife can take care of my kids in my absence."

"You know there are concerns," added Army wife Tara Rausch. "But I have confidence in his skill as a soldier and the training he's received and he's been over there twice and he's come back successfully and that's what we're hoping for this time as well."

Army wife Athena Nick added: "It's hard, he's leaving early with the advance party so it's hard. We only have a couple of weekends left. This kind of tells you that they really are going, so it's tough."

The Strykers will be leaving in groups over the next several weeks. They'll be in Iraq along with the 3rd Stryker brigade from Fort Lewis. That unit has been there since last summer.