Friends and family welcomed home the members of 148th Infantry at the National Guard Armory Saturday afternoon, marking the end of the group’s year-long stint spent securing the country.

University students form about a fourth of the unit, which has more than 160 members and hasn’t been called to duty since the Korean War.

“We had to forge our way through because nobody had to deal with this before,” said Chad Roper, guard member and student. “We had to set the standards.”

Though the unit hadn’t gone to duty in a few decades, that didn’t slow them down, according to Reed Luecke, also a student.

“We were mobilized and ready in just a week,” he said.

But, for a student, a year in Fort Knox means a year away from school.

Because the unit was called to duty in October, students in the unit missed nearly a year’s worth of class.

“It’s a lot harder mentally than it is physically because you’re away from your family and school,” Reed said.

But the time spent in Fort Knox was a learning experience all its own, according to Jeffrey Meeker.

“They train you continuously,” said Meeker, who had already spent three years in the armed forces. “I really learned a lot.”

Guard members were trained as a part of a quick-reaction force meant to respond to an attack within a half hour’s notice as a part of Operation Noble Eagle, which is intended to tighten homeland security against terrorism.

Roper also learned a lot in the past year. “When you miss school, it hurts you,” he said. “But I wouldn’t trade the past year for anything.”

Each of the three students has paid a price while defending the country – Roper is still technically a freshman, Meeker is returning to his sophomore year, and Luecke is a year behind as well. In addition, both Luecke and Meeker missed an entire season’s worth of rugby practice. But catching up shouldn’t be a problem, according to Meeker.

“We’re gonna have to work a little harder,” he said. “But (the team) has been really good to us.”

The unit’s college students have probably had the easiest time uprooting their lives, according to Reed.

“One guy’s wife had a baby in March, so he’s barely got to see it,” Reed said. “By comparison, college students don’t have that much responsibility.”

Though responsibility is laid on thick in the military, that doesn’t mean the guard members couldn’t enjoy themselves.

They cited camaraderie, training and a trip to the Kentucky Derby as just a few of the year’s highlights. But it’s impossible to pinpoint what made the experience great, according to Roper.

“That’s like saying, ‘here’s a library, pick your favorite book,'” he said.

Though each student enjoyed the experience, they’re all glad to finally return home.

“I’m so happy to be back – it’s great,” Roper said. “I have a lot of hopes for the next year.”

Roper, Luecke and Meeker agreed that rest is first on the agenda.

“I’ve added a good chapter to my life,” Meeker said. “So now I’m gonna relax in the apartment I’ve been paying for over the past year.”