AUGUSTA — A small group of soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion that deployed to Afghanistan last fall is headed back home.

The soldiers are expected to arrive at the Augusta Armory at noon Friday. The 13 soldiers are members of the 1035th Survey and Design Team and will be welcomed by family and friends at a public ceremony. The soldiers provided engineer surveys to every company in the 133rd.

Military officials say the members of the 133rd returned last weekend to Ford Dix, New Jersey. The rest of the battalion is expected to return to Maine early next week.

The 133rd has been the subject of speculation in Maine that it could be moved to Pennsylvania and replaced with an infantry unit.