FOB MAREZ — Soldiers of the 3rd "Greywolf" Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have begun packing for their return to Fort Hood, Texas, which will officially end their year-long deployment here.

"Everyone is excited," said Cpl. Jennifer Nicholson, the supply non-commissioned officer for Forward Support Company G, 2nd Bn., 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd HBCT. "Everyone wants to pack to go home because it means it's getting closer to us leaving."

In the face of that excitement, the packing process itself is a daunting task that requires attention to detail and a lot of hard work by the Soldiers.

"The packing process is long and tedious. We start by identifying the non-essential stuff that we don't need right away and pack that up and start the paperwork to inventory it all and have a good count," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kinnerk, a platoon sergeant with Forward Support Co. G. "Anything that is packed has to also be accounted for so that if it gets lost in transition, we can do the proper paperwork for reimbursement. Inventory is done by the platoon sergeants and squad leaders so that we can make sure it is all accounted for."

Once the units have gathered up the items that need to be packed, they have to go through a thorough inspection process.

"Trained customs inspectors will come and look at all our equipment to make sure we aren't taking anything back that is not authorized," said Kinnerk, a McHenry, Ill., native.

By the end of their deployment, 3rd HBCT will have packed up and inspected more than 3.5 million pounds of equipment to be shipped back to the U.S., according the Sgt. 1st Class Scott Smith, 3rd HBCT's mobility non-commissioned officer and San Antonio, Texas, native.

As the Soldiers pack, they begin to think about the things they want to do when they get back to Fort Hood. For them it's a welcome thought as they wade through palletized equipment and trunks full of military gear and pack it into a large metal shipping container.

"The first thing I plan to do is go out to dinner with the wife and kids," said Kinnerk, "and say hi to my dog."

The packing process comes in the midst of still-ongoing operations and mission handovers with 3rd HBCT's replacements. Though this is a milestone for Soldiers to look forward to, the Soldiers know that there is still much to be done.

"The days are a little longer but it's worth it," said Nicholson, a Sumter, S.C., native. "We have new units coming in to replace us that we are training with. We are packing, making sure inventories are correct, checking equipment all over the forward operating base and making sure the Soldiers are taken care of before we leave."

However, packing up to head back to Fort Hood is only a small part of 3 HBCT's mission in Ninewah province. The Soldiers are still conducting full spectrum operations in northern Iraq while preparing to head home. They remain dedicated to their mission until the day they get on a plane with a successful deployment under their belts.