They’ll be home on Christmas, but not long after that. Nine Missouri Guardsmen are heading to Fort Hood, Texas two days after Christmas Day and then off to Afghanistan for a year. They’ll be part of a bigger task force designed to train the Afghanis how to protect their own military assets. During a send-off in Jefferson City, Guard General Michael Pace gave the soldiers and their families encouragement. The guard members come from Jefferson City, Centertown, Lexington and Cape Girardeau.