Thirty-two hundred Wisconsin soldiers who've been at war in Iraq will be headed home this winter.

We found out how UW-Eau Claire is preparing to help them once they return. On Tuesday, a trained trauma nurse talked about what soldiers need when they come back from a warzone.

Connie Bengston from Minneapolis says the steps the University is making to help soldiers are important.

By this time of year most college students have adapted to their routine, but for returning soldiers the lack of structure in most students day's can be maddening.

Former Marine Corps member and current Kinesiology sophomore Jon Haag says, “Everything in the military is boom, boom, boom, this is what ya need to do, go do it. When you get out, it's kind of like augh, what am I gonna do.”

The 25-year-old Haag did 2 tours in Iraq before attending college, he says transitioning from military life to student life was his biggest struggle, but he has learned to deal with it. He says, “You might have some bad things happen to you, so if you can, make a schedule to where your keeping busy, always doing something, I think that might help a lot.”

Connie Bengston agrees, saying most soldiers take between six months to a year to fully transition back to civilian life.

Tuesday, she reminded faculty and staff that not every soldier's experience is the same. She says, “They are going to return from the combat zone with very specific memories very specific experiences that are unique to them.”

Bengston also said she was glad to see professors taking an active role in wanting to make their classrooms an open place for veterans.

Bengston says one way the community can support the troops once they come back home, is to acknowledge their service and thank them, and be sensitive when asking questions about their time at war.

The Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Infantry Brigade combat team returns to Wisconsin sometime in late January or early February.