SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Deployment ceremonies for war duty have been held over and over on Sills Field, but the challenges aren't much different for families five years into the war in Iraq and seven years into Afghanistan.

About 1,200 soldiers stood at attention yesterday, representatives of the 4,500 who are leaving this month and in November for a year of duty in northern Iraq.

"It's hard. Very hard. Emotionally, physically draining. Stressful. Constant worry," said Michele Beinerman, as her 2-year-old daughter sat in a stroller.

Her husband, Pvt. Adam Beinerman, 26, was at attention on the field, and for the next year he'll be on his first deployment to Iraq.

The 3rd Brigade, with about 3,500 soldiers, and 25th Infantry Division headquarters, with 1,000 soldiers, are making a return trip to northern Iraq a year after getting back from there.

The same units deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.

Maj. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., the commander of the 25th Division, reviewed the troops while standing in the back of a Humvee that looped Sills field.

"Sir, commanders and colors are present," a soldier reported as a color guard stood in formation before the reviewing podium and long rows of folding chairs set up for fellow soldiers, family and guests.

"Twelve months (at home) is not a lot of time. But our soldiers and their families have once again answered the call of duty in the face of redeployment," Caslen told those assembled.

Before they go, the soldiers are getting several weeks of leave.

Caslen will be in charge of three maneuver brigades — down from the previous four — in a Pennsylvania-size region of northern Iraq. A formal "transfer of authority" to Caslen is expected Dec. 9.

He'll also have engineering, artillery, support and aviation brigades, but it's a decreasing footprint in what is expected to be a year of many political decisions, both in the U.S. and in Iraq.

The 3rd Brigade, which covered Kirkuk province on the last deployment, will be responsible for Kirkuk and Salah ad Din provinces this time around.

"I think that's the way of the future, and I'm excited by that, because what they are forcing us to do by thinning our lines is to really prepare for what's going to inevitably happen another year or two down the road," Caslen said.

Caslen also noted that it will be a time of uncertainty, with the U.S. presidential election coming up, a "status of forces" agreement to be reached with Iraq, provincial elections expected in late January, and an Iraq presidential election.

Forty-one Hawai'i-based soldiers were killed during the 2006-07 deployment. However, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently said he foresees a dwindling U.S. combat role in Iraq as the country stabilizes.

Whatever comes next in Iraq — at the moment, violence is down and reconstruction is up — there will be a lot of Hawai'i-based troops experiencing it.

The 4,000-soldier Stryker brigade from Schofield is nine months into a 15-month deployment to the Taji area immediately north of Baghdad, with an expected return in March.

About 1,700 Hawai'i Army National Guard and Reserve soldiers, meanwhile, are training at Fort Hood in Texas, preparing to leave for Kuwait this month.

Additionally, battalions of 1,000 Kane'ohe Bay Marines continue to deploy to western Iraq.

The impending departure of 4,500 more Schofield soldiers also is on the minds of Wahiawa merchants, already hit by the economic downturn.

Five of the 10 customers sitting down for lunch yesterday at 12:30 p.m. at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant were wearing Army digital camouflage.

"The food costs have raised up a lot this past year," said restaurant owner Christina Liang. "What are we going to do in December, January and February?"

During that time, 8,500 Schofield soldiers will be in Iraq. After that, the Stryker brigade and its 4,000 soldiers will be home.

The Great Wall restaurant has been in business for 13 years.

"I think we can still go on, but things will be harder," Liang said.

Caslen, the 25th Division commander, estimated that about 40 percent of the deploying soldiers were on the last 3rd Brigade deployment to Iraq.

Another 30 percent to 35 percent deploying came to Schofield off previous deployments with units elsewhere, and about 20 percent to 25 percent have not deployed before, he said.

Sgt. Joshua Villegas, 24, from Puerto Rico, was with the 3rd Brigade on the last deployment, and now is one of those returning a year later. In Iraq, he'll be a convoy gunner. He's married and has a 3-year-old daughter.

"It's tough. It's really tough," he said about leaving his family. "But once again, it's what I chose to do."

Repeat deployments have been a major source of strain on Army families, leading to skyrocketing divorces and increased suicides.

Asked how the Army could do better, Villegas said, "Honestly, on that, I really don't know. Shorter deployments, I guess."

Staff Sgt. Donte Allen, 27, said it's "messed up being away from family, but my wife was military. She was Air Force, so she understands how it goes. It's not that bad, and I like the job."

Allen, who's from Baltimore, also is making a return trip to Iraq. He also deployed to Afghanistan. Asked what he learned to keep families together, he said "communication and a whole lotta trust. That's how me and my wife do it."

While the separation to come is never easy, families who have experienced it before say they at least know what's ahead.

"It's nothing new. We've been through it before, so it's a lot easier to plan," said Sharon Moss, whose husband, Maj. Francis Moss, 39, is deploying. "The unknown is not really there anymore."

But their 1-year-old daughter "is not going to remember Daddy when he gets home," and she's trying to figure out ways to make sure he stays part of the child's life, like making videos for her to watch.

"For him, he's real excited to go," Moss said. "It's his job. It's what he signed up to do."

Charity Delrosario, who's from Wahiawa, will be seeing off her husband, Sgt. Brendon Delrosario, who's from Waipahu.

The 25-year-old has been to Iraq and Afghanistan before, and on the last deployment to Iraq, a roadside bomb went off, leaving him "a little deaf" in one ear.

"I said, 'You better come home to me,' but I know he will," she said.