Hartford -- State Rep. Christopher Coutu, R-Norwich, announced today that he will miss most of this year's General Assembly session while he attends 2 1/2 months of U.S. Army National Guard training in South Carolina.

Coutu, who is running to unseat U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, in November, said he will be out of the state from February through April for leadership training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He said the training is required for him to stay in the military and be ready for potential deployment.

"It's what I have to do to fulfill my military obligation," Coutu said.

He said he anticipates returning to Connecticut in time for the final three weeks of legislative session, when much of the voting occurs. The session convenes Feb. 8 and adjourns May 9.

He said his campaign team will continue his congressional campaign in his absence. Coutu has said he will not be a candidate this year for reelection in the state legislature.

Coutu is a 2nd Lieutenant with the 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group in Groton. He served as a sergeant in the Air Force for 13 years prior to being commissioned in 2009 as an Army officer.