COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) – Fifty members of the Vermont Army National Guard who have been in Afghanistan training the new Afghan army are expected to return in early September.

Vermont National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Veronica Saffo said the date of the group’s return depends on when they can they can be flown out of Afghanistan, but it’s expected to be within the next two weeks.

“We anticipate a very smooth transition. They were in Afghanistan for just under a year, about one year total that they’ve been gone,” she said. “Of course, the families are just about at their peak of anticipation.”

Saffo said the men will arrive at Fort Carson, Colo., where they will spend up to a week undergoing medical checkups and filing paperwork. After that, they group will return to Vermont.

AP-ES-08-27-04 0938EDT