(WSBT) A pair of Elkhart soldiers made a surprise trip home, just days before they're scheduled to head to Iraq for the first time.

It's been two months since 175 soldiers from the Indiana Army National Guard's Company F left South Bend for Fort Dix in New Jersey. They've been training for combat in Iraq, and that training is nearly complete.

The unit had just 19 days to pack, hug, and report. But time quickly slowed for this new band of brothers when training began. Twenty-hour days dragged on like the mud they trained in. In temperatures topping 100 degrees, sweat soaked through 50 pounds of gear in minutes.

But last week, Company F got an unexpected surprise.

The unit would have three days off before their final deployment.

Specialist Nate Wright knew exactly where he'd be for his leave, but no one else did.

"[My dad] had no idea I was even coming home," he said. "He was downstairs working on something, and I walked down there and he turned around, and had a huge smile on his face!"

"I just turned around, he was standing right there," echoed Nate's father Brad. "He snuck up on me, so I was definitely shocked!"

And that shock quickly spread through the neighborhood.

Specialist Brandon Bumpus grew up just a few doors down, and attended Jimtown High School with his friend Nate. He had his own surprise planned.

When he walked in the front door?

"It felt good," he said. "Really good! Especially the air conditioning."

But time is still ticking.

Both soldiers have just three days to catch up with old friends and share the simple joy of laughter before time turns that joy back to concern. Before the reality of their mission really hits home.

"It's going to hurt more to say goodbye the second time, definitely," said Brad Wright.

"I'm sure it's gonna hit me pretty hard again too," agreed Specialist Bumpus.

Still, both soldiers say their unit is ready.

"I'm ready to go. I think all 175 of us are ready to go," said Specialist Wright.

So for now they're cherishing the little things, like sleep. Because, even with 64 days down there's still a long way to go.

"I'm just glad I didn't have a platoon Sergeant yelling to wake me up today," said Specialist. Wright. "We'll take what we can."

Company F trained for five different perimeter security jobs while they were at Fort Dix, and there's a good chance they'll work all of them at some point once they're deployed, though the Army remains silent on exactly when and where that deployment will occur.

Tune in to WSBT later this week for an exclusive look at Company F's training and pending deployment in a special series of reports from Fort Dix.