Local National Guard unit set to return from yearlong Iraq deployment this week

The yearlong journey for the 1st Battalion, 163rd Field Artillery of the Indiana Army National Guard, an Evansville-based unit that draws in some 300 soldiers from around the Hoosier State. is nearing its end.

The unit has notified family members that they will arrive home in Indiana on Thursday at Evansville Regional Airport. Two other flights will take soldiers from other areas of the state to Indianapolis International Airport.

The unit has been away from home for a year, providing air defense capabilities in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

More: Q&A: Checking in on Evansville's 163rd Field Artillery unit, on deployment in Iraq

After departing Iraq a couple of weeks ago, the 163rd has been at Fort Bliss in Texas, going through what the military calls a "demobilization process" − a time-consuming bit of work that helps cover andminsitrative and medical processing.

Thursday, they'll load up on a plane, land in Evansville, get reunited first with their luggage and then with their families.

There's no official ceremony planned for the day, according to an Indiana National Guard spokesman.

More: Q&A: Iraq deployment coming to an end for Evansville's 163rd. So what comes next?

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 163rd Field Artillery Unit returning to Evansville from Iraq this week