Seventeen members of the 1156th Military Police Detachment from the National Guard based in Clanton will deploy to Iraq this spring, according to state public affairs officer Lt. Col. Cindy Bachus.

The guardsmen are criminal investigators who will spend approximately 12 months in the country, most likely in Baghdad, Bachus said, though they could spend time in other parts of Iraq.

Detachment commander Sgt. Kevin Harrison will join them. The federal agents will investigate homicides, sexual assault and other crimes while overseas.

Bachus said the National Guard will release a press release in the near future to offer details about the guardsmen and an upcoming deployment ceremony.

Due to privacy reasons Bachus said she could not give their names.