The first wave of Quebec-based soldiers are on their way to Afghanistan as CFB Valcartier members assume leadership of the Canadian mission in the country.

About 180 soldiers from CFB Valcartier said goodbye to their families Sunday at the military base near Quebec City. (CBC) On Sunday, the first contingent of 180 soldiers left their base just north of Quebec City. The rest of the 1,600 soldiers will leave between now and August.

Their tours will last six months.

This will be the third time Valcartier has sent soldiers to Afghanistan since 2007. However, it will be the first tour for most of the soldiers, including 26-year-old Lieut. Vincent Saint-Onge.

"I know there are risks," said Saint-Onge. "We could be hurt. However, my biggest fear isn't that; it's being able to succeed at my job."

Chief Warrant Officer Pierre Marchand said the internationally inexperienced soldiers aren't going in cold. They are benefiting from the experience of soldiers who have already been there, he said.

"The first [time], we didn't have anybody with that kind of expertise, and it was really hard for the training. But this time, it was the opposite," said Marchand. "We had a lot of veterans in Valcartier able to share their expertise and knowledge."

Since NATO forces started their mission in Afghanistan, 112 Canadian soldiers have died. Ten were stationed at CFB Valcartier.

Marchand says morale on the base is good, but that it is a difficult time for families.

"It's extremely hard sometimes for the family because physically you're there [with them], but mentally, you're thinking about Afghanistan," said Marchand.

The Valcartier soldiers will officially take over from their colleagues at CFB Petawawa in August.