Wanda Bennett, mother of 21-year-old soldier Alan Bennett of Richburg in Chester County, greeted her son at Fort Bragg, N.C., along with several other families of local soldiers. Alan Bennett, a 2005 Lewisville High graduate, was a student at the University of South Carolina when he was activated last year.

"I'm just happy to have him back," said Bennett, head of the 178th Combat Engineers Family Readiness Group that assists families during deployment. "He looked good."

The area soldiers, normally members of the 178th, are part of more than 1,800 soldiers with the guard's 218th Brigade that left for Afghanistan in April 2007. The 178th, which had more than 150 soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, is made up of armories from Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Timmonsville and Wellford. The soldiers handled security duties and trained Afghan forces.

The arrival Thursday morning is part of the latest wave of South Carolina returnees. The first group arrived two weeks ago. Other members of the 218th are scheduled to arrive over the next few days with all members of the brigade expected in the states by May 15, guard spokesman Lt. Col. Pete Brooks said.

Soldiers do not return home immediately after landing at Fort Bragg. Post-deployment duties normally take four or five days, Brooks said.

A date has not been set for a welcome home ceremony for 178th soldiers at the Rock Hill armory near the Rock Hill/York County Airport, but it is expected late next week.