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Michigan National Guard Units returning home

About a thousand Michigan Army and Air National Guardsmen will spend the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend back home, after spending the past year in Iraq and Kuwait.  Two battalions of guardsmen have been arriving in cities and towns across Michigan during the past few days.  

Captain Aaron Jenkins is a Michigan National Guard spokesman.    He says moving the troops from the Middle East to Michigan is complicated by the need to bring their equipment back with the troops.   

“Every one of those soldiers has a different job…that requires different military equipment. …so the packing of that equipment…and shipping is just a logistical nightmare.”

There are still some Michigan guardsmen in Iraq and Kuwait.  Jenkins says Michigan also has a large number of guardsmen serving in Afghanistan.  

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.