A long line of military trucks slowly rolls out of a base in central Iraq, carrying 99 US soldiers on their last mission in the country – to make it safely to Kuwait with their equipment.

Out on the highway, soldiers point out potential threats, mainly suspicious vehicles, by radio, so that the convoy, especially the mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) gun trucks that are its main defence, are aware of them. The going is slow – usually about 65 kilometres per hour or less – and the ride bumpy.

Visibility out of the back of the MRAPs is limited by small windows.

It is dark outside, but all interior lights are turned off. Space is tight, and the seat backs are straight upright and have little padding.

It is not a comfortable place to spend long hours on the road, especially wearing body armour and helmets, and carrying weapons.

But the soldiers from the 115th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), some of whom have spent years in Iraq over multiple deployments, are finally on their way out.

The mission started at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu, a base near the town of Iskandiriyah, south of Baghdad, which was handed over to Iraqi control a few days after their departure, when the last of the US troops left the base.

There, the soldiers carried out extensive pre-departure checks of their equipment, especially their vehicles and weapons.

“I pray to God that nothing happens, but if it does, I’ll be ready,” said Sergeant Steven Baugher, the gunner on an MRAP, who was on his second Iraq deployment.

“It’s nuts thinking that it’s the last mission, and I have a feeling they’re gonna try something.