175 Camp Mabry soldiers return home after yearlong deployment

CAMP MABRY, Texas (KXAN) - It was an emotional reunion Thursday morning as family, friends and Austin welcomed home 175 Camp Mabry soldiers after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.

The soldiers have been helping to rebuild the country in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Eight-year-old Jayden and his two younger brothers anxiously waited to see their dad.

"I love that he gets to spend time with me and he does the best he can do, " Jayden said.

After missing birthdays and holidays for an entire year, Jayden's mother, Dominique Martinez, said she's ready to have her husband back in her arms.

"Just worrying about him, because you never know what can happen," Martinez said.

The Martinez family along with hundreds of others waited with flags and banners in hand as four buses carrying 175 soldiers pulled up.

The 930th Engineer Battalion played an important roll in the support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Over the year, these men and women have built 91 miles of roads, six bridges and cleared 29,000 miles of roadway in Afghanistan.

But their biggest accomplishment was the training of 200 Afghan National Army engineers, allowing the country to continue rebuilding after U.S. forces leaves.

The soldiers have 90 days off until they return back to training.