But her husband and two children are staying in South Sound.
"It is hard to leave your family," said Brown, 34. "It's hard to leave them and not know when you're coming back.
"At the same time, I'm proud to be able to do this."
Brown, an Army medic with the 47th Combat Support Hospital, was one of 550 soldiers at a Fort Lewis deployment ceremony Friday afternoon.
The military is rapidly gearing up for a possible war in Iraq, and Friday's deployment was just part of the process that is sending thousands of reserve, National Guard and regular soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from throughout the state overseas.
In Washington state, the Army has activated or deployed people from 49 reserve or National Guard units.
The Navy has activated people from 37 reserve units.
Meanwhile, in the state, the Air Force has activated people from four large reserve or National Guard units, and the Marine Corps has called up people from three large units.
The 47th is composed of regular Army, reserve and National Guard units from 11 bases across the United States, Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano told the assembled soldiers and families.
Soriano is commanding general of I Corps and Fort Lewis.
The different units have blended into one team during two weeks of training, Soriano said.
"The 47th Combat Support Hospital is all about taking care of soldiers and saving lives," Soriano said before he walked through the crowd of soldiers and families to shake hands.
Saving lives and serving his country is why Sgt. Edward Pinoon, a medic, is ready to go where he is sent.
Right now, no one knows exactly where the 47th is going, Pinoon, a seven-year veteran, said.
But they do know the unit is leaving very soon.
"The hardest part is just leaving your family," Pinoon said as his wife and daughter stood nearby.
"But I also feel good -- I'm ready and I trained for this."
Pinoon's wife, Deborah, is a former soldier.
"So, I understand how he's going to do a job," Deborah Pinoon said. "They'll do it and come on home."
Lt. Katie Mobley, a nurse, is leaving her husband behind.
"I kind of like not knowing where we're going to go," said Mobley, 23.
"It kind of heightens the call of duty."
Mobley's husband, Keith, is a former Army helicopter pilot.
The Army is setting up telephones and Internet connections at most bases, so families can stay in touch with soldiers, Mobley said.
Mobley said the 47th has worked hard to become a team during the past two weeks -- including training on how to treat soldiers suffering from nuclear, chemical or biological wounds.
"I always wanted to be a soldier and a nurse," said Mobley, who graduated from Seattle University 18 months ago. "I want to help people, and I'm going to take care of soldiers."
Brown said her family understands that soldiers need her help.
"I don't want her to go," said daughter Katie, 11. "But I know it's for a good cause, so it makes me feel better."
The Olympian Online
On the Web
Emergency:
• Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division
• Emergency resources listing, from state Department of Information Services
• Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness (FEMA)