New York, NY —

Family members of New Jersey soldiers are expressing frustration and disappointment about the fact that troops will be staying in Iraq four months longer than expected.

REPORTER: Instead of coming home in March or April, members of the 117th Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition unit and the 250th Brigade Support Battalion won't be back until July or August.

The extension announced Thursday is part of President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,000 troops to Iraq. It will affect 159 members of the New Jersey Army National Guard.

Speaking at a meeting with state officials at the West Orange armory Saturday, many family members complained that soldiers in Iraq learned of the extension either through the media or through family members, not from military officials.