Nikki Haley's husband back home for leave from deployment

S.C. First Gentleman Michael Haley is back home for up to two weeks of leave from a year-long S.C. National Guard deployment in Afghanistan, the governor’s office said Monday.

The husband of Gov. Nikki Haley, a captain in the guard, left for Afghanistan in January as a part of a 47-member unit of agricultural and business professionals aiding local farmers.

He returned to South Carolina on Monday morning a few days earlier than expected, leading the governor to postpone two public events and a campaign fundraiser planned in Charleston today, her spokesman Rob Godfrey said.

Her weekly schedule that was released today had no other events this week.

Deployed guard members can request up to two weeks of leave, guard spokeswoman Maj. Cindi King said. Decisions are made by their commanders, she said.

Haley, 43, is thought to be the first spouse of a sitting governor to go to a combat zone with the Guard, the National Guard Association has said.

This story was originally published May 20, 2013 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Nikki Haley's husband back home for leave from deployment."