It is a tough weekend for the families of 500 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers who will be away from their loved ones for the next year.

Their unit is based in Montevideo, Minnesota.

They're now on their way to Iraq.

For those who will be left here at home, the worrying has now started.

500 members of Montevideo's 1st battalion, 151st Field Artillery Unit, have a job which by design will place them in harm's way.

After some training in Texas, it will be on to Iraq and the on-going war on terror.

And while the emotions now are about saying good-bye and hoping for the best, one soldier's wife says she is already thinking about the emotions when her husband returns home.

"How they're going to be when they get back. Is my biggest fear. Worried about you know, just little things like will they wake up in the middle of the night, with you know, nightmares? Or will they be the same when they get home? Will they love us as much when they get home?" said Michelle McFarland.

For the next year, this is just some of what Michelle Mcfarland will be thinking about.