OWATONNA — A Family Reintegration Academy will be held March 3 at Owatonna High School. There are more than 200 family members of soldiers in the National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment who are signed up to attend. Albert Lea’s Delta Company is part of that battalion.

The event is a chance for family members of deployed soldiers to get ready for their return. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and a welcome meeting will be at 10 a.m. Following the welcome, participants will be split into three groups to go to three workshops.

The first is “What to Expect When My Soldier Comes Home” which is an interactive discussion that allows participants to discuss concerns and issues with reconnecting with their soldier. The second workshop is “Homecoming” where family members can learn about deployment conditions and military lifestyle and learn about common expectations after a deployment. The third workshop is “Warning Signs” where participants can learn to recognize stresses and identify risk factors and warning signs in family members and children.

Starting at 3 p.m. participants will choose two of five breakout sessions. The sessions include one for preparing children for the soldier’s return home, improving communication to help reconnect with your spouse, tips for extended family members, learning about how Tricare benefits change after a deployment and how to manage money together when the soldier returns.

Volunteers are still needed to help staff the event, and anyone interested can contact Staff Sgt. David Thul by phone at 612-618-6505 or by email at david.thul@us.army.mil.