Two regiments from Scotland are being deployed to Afghanistan as the conflict in the country continues to worsen.
Eighty one British soldiers have been killed this year so far and almost one and a half thousand have been injured.
The battlegroup from Scotland is being sent to the Helmand Province which has seen some of the worst fighting.
Among them will be 28-year-old Corporal Steven Higgins from Prestonpans. He is a member of B Company, One Scots, which is supporting the 3 Rifles in this latest tour.
Corporal Higgins has been in the Army for three years and this is his second tour of duty in the Middle East. Last year he completed a six month tour of Iraq during which his first daugther, Grace, was born.
This time he's going to be leaving behind not only Grace and wife Sharon but his new born son, Joey.
But he told STV News that active service was all part of the job. He said: "That's why I joined the army and joined the infantry. To go out there and make a difference."
The battlegroup will parade at Dreghorn Barracks this evening before the first of the men leave for their 6 month tour of duty.
