NATCHEZ &8212; The 3,500 soldiers of Mississippi&8217;s 155th Infantry are expected home by the end of January, although some of them could be home as soon as next month.

That&8217;s according to Lt. Col. Tim Powell, spokesman for the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Previously, the National Guard had been reluctant to say when the troops were expected home. Even now, Powell said arrival dates are subject to change.

As groups of soldiers are released from duty in Iraq, they will be flown back to Hattiesburg&8217;s Camp Shelby for demobilization, a process that takes anywhere from five to seven days.

And don&8217;t expect all of the 40-plus soldiers from the Miss-Lou to come back at the same time, Powell said.

&8220;As they&8217;re released from duty in country in groups, they&8217;ll be sent back. All the (soldiers) from Natchez &8230; may not all be located at the same bases&8221; in Iraq, Powell said. &8220;So they wouldn&8217;t all be coming back at the same time.&8221;

Another reason the 155th Infantry&8217;s troops can&8217;t be sent back in smaller groups &8212; 200 to 300 soldiers at a time at most, said Powell &8212; is

Camp Shelby won&8217;t have room for them all. That&8217;s because 4,000 troops from Minnesota will also be training at the camp at that time.

The Family Readiness Group has set a tentative homecoming celebration for Jan. 21.