After a year in Afghanistan members of Georgia’s 48th Brigade came home this spring, now hundreds of soldiers are getting help readjusting to life in Georgia.One program aims to help them be successful.

Sgt. Chassy Battle got back from Afghanistan in March. She says the hardest thing was being away from her 7-year old son. After some time off she went back to work as a budget analyst for the 48th Brigade.

“When I pulled that uniform out that day he just broke down in tears cause he thought mommy was about to go again and it was like the hardest thing ever.”

Battle came to one of several workshops the military is holding around the state. They’re called Strong Bond, and are designed to help soldiers with things like employment, education, and the emotional side of coming home.

Sgt. Eugene Newsome says some soldiers have a hard time returning to civilian jobs.

“You’re going back to a place where people didn’t share your experiences so you can’t relate so it’s hard to connect to them for a while. It takes a long time to transition back to that.”

Spouses and children are getting help with that transition as well. Workshops are offered on strengthening marriage and family, finances, and anger management.

Chassy Battle says it’s also good to reconnect with people who know what she’s going through.

“You got people expecting you to be the same way when really you’re not ‘cause a lot of people don’t want to, they don’t want to really admit it but war changes you. It really does.”

The final Strong Bond workshop will be held next weekend in Savannah.

Tags: Afghanistan, Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia 48th Brigade, Strong Bonds