After nine months in Iraq, the first wave of Idaho soldiers of the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team arrived back in the country on Sunday.

About 300 soldiers from Idaho, Montana and Oregon flew in chartered aircraft from Kuwait to Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash.

Each soldier is expected to go through out-processing at JBLM for about 10 days before being released from active duty and returning to their Idaho homes.

Out-processing tasks include post-deployment health assessment, weapons and equipment turn-in, legal counseling, personnel records review, medical records review and health benefits counseling.

The 116th, including soldiers based out of the Post Falls armory, has about 1,500 soldiers from Idaho, 600 from Montana and 600 from Oregon.

The soldiers will return in groups of 200 to 300 to JBLM.

The soldiers then return to their homes in small groups, or even individually, by flying to local airports throughout the state.

Idaho employers who would like more information on hiring soldiers as part of the Hire One Vet program, call Col. Tim Marsano at (208) 422-5268.