WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Over 50 members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard Waukesha's 135th Medical Company attended a send-off ceremony Friday, March 27, before deploying to multiple locations in the Middle East to provide medical support to U.S. Service Members and other coalition forces.

Officials say many of the deploying soldiers were major contributors in Wisconsin’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic – where National Guardsmen set up COVID-19 isolation facilities, assisted nursing home staff, and laid the groundwork for the Wisconsin National Guard to conduct over 1 million COVID-19 tests.

According to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, these early efforts were critical to the success of the state’s strategy for combating the impact of COVID-19 in Wisconsin communities.

“More than any other unit, the 135th Medical Company has served our citizens so admirably during COVID-19,” Evers said in a video message presented to the audience at the ceremony.

The 135th went through an eventful past year. In addition to balancing the demands of civilian careers, supporting COVID-19 efforts throughout the state,  and balancing families, soldiers also had to find time to make their preparations for their spring deployment.

The unit will travel to Texas for additional training before departing for the Middle East where they will continue to enable care to patients or casualties overseas.