By John Howell Sr.

The main body of Mississippi National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 198th Combined Arms, 155th Brigade Combat will return home in March, Capt. Murray Shugars said.

“Please understand that soldiers are demobilizing on different dates,” the Public Affairs officer said. “Priority demobilization includes soldiers who are returning stateside to attend military schools. Some of them have returned already.”

“Demobilization for a large unit, such as a battalion or brigade, is an individual process,” Shugars continued. “Once returning to Camp Shelby, each soldier undergoes the process. Some will remain at Camp Shelby longer than others, depending on their needs.”

Many of the returning soldiers are now serving with the 2/198th are completing their second tour, having served a tour with the 155th in Iraq in 2005.

The 155th Brigade Combat Team, including 3,400 Mississippi troops, mobilized on May 1, 2009 for deployment to Iraq.