The largest deployment of National Guard troops since World War II returned home Tuesday. Four thousand members of the 56th Stryker Brigade have been gone for about a year.  About 700 of those men and women are from our region.  But how do those soldiers go from the battle fields to the home front?

First Lieutenant Ashley Fields' family was waiting for him when his bus pulled up. And they had a welcome home party waiting for him. He says it was a little weird not having to be always on guard when he first got back. But it wasn't hard to get used to; he said it was really different but relaxing and comfortable.

His mother said she never wished for a year to go by quickly before. She picked up extra jobs and did volunteer work to help pass the time. But they're looking forward to slowing down and getting back to normal now that her son is home.

And Fields is ready for a normal life too.  He says things like the welcome home party make it a lot easier to get back to normal. He says he has a great support group in his family. He plans to just take things day by day. And his family plans to help anyway they can.

He's going to take some time to just relax before looking for a job. He's going to Curve games, Penn State games, and just spending time with his girlfriend and family. That's the life he's ready to get back to.

Lieutenant Fields thinks his experience and the skills he learned while serving will actually help him in the work place.