NASHVILLE (AP) -- The commander of the Tennessee National Guard's largest unit said its next deployment could be to Afghanistan, where military leaders have said they want to send more troops.

Col. Jeff Holmes, commander of the 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, said in an interview with The Associated Press there's a good chance the unit will be headed there, instead of Iraq, beginning next spring.

However, Holmes said he has not been given any official notice from the National Guard and the unit hasn't yet received mobilization orders since being put on alert in May for a possible deployment. Nearly 4,000 soldiers will start training over the next four to five months.

Even if they go to Iraq, Holmes said he's expecting it to be different from their last deployment because of the the decrease in violence.