Montana National Guard Soldiers Headed Home

Hundreds of troops assigned to an Idaho-based National Guard unit are slated to return home after spending a year in Iraq.

Military officials say about 2,700 members of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team are expected to return later this month. The unit is made up of soldiers from Idaho, Oregon and Montana.

Idaho National Guard officials say soldiers will return from Iraq in groups of more than 200, with the first charter flights arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington at the end of August.

Most will spend a week in processing before returning to Idaho in small groups.

Guard officials say about 600 of the returning troops will face a challenge of finding work when they get back home.
Associated Press