Approximately 150 Marines and sailors of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Kane'ohe Bay will leave Sunday for a seven-month deployment to al Asad, Iraq.

The Marines and sailors are the third of three groups replacing the 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment — also stationed in Hawai'i — and will participate in the continuing stabilization and security efforts, officials said.

The battalion, nicknamed "America's Battalion," will be deploying approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors to Iraq in April.