Aloha Soldiers! Welcome Home

By Staff Sgt. Jennifer C. Johnson, JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public AffairsAugust 5, 2015

Aloha Soldiers! Welcome Home
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Aloha Soldiers! Welcome Home
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Aloha Soldiers! Welcome Home
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WASHINGTON (August 2, 2015) -- Ten Soldiers from the U.S. Army Priority Air Transport Command's (USAPAT) Pacific Flight Detachment (PFD), were welcomed back onto U. S. soil by their headquarters command at Joint Base Andrews, Md., after a four-month deployment to Afghanistan.

The Soldiers were greeted at the hangar by their fellow stateside command members and their senior leadership. A barbeque celebration was held in PFD's honor before they returned to their home station at Joint Base Pearl Harbor/Hickam, Hawaii.

USAPAT headquarters is based at Joint Base Andrews and has a subordinate flight detachment located in Hawaii. USAPAT falls under the command of U.S. Army Air Operations Group and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.

"This a great opportunity to get our whole organization together," said Lt. Col. Heather L. Maki, USAPAT commander. "Because our PFD is so far away in Hickam, they don't necessarily get the same attention and recognition they deserve due to the distance. It's a great way for us [USAPAT headquarters command] to recognize our PFD following their deployment."

"It feels really good to be back in the United States," said Sgt. Antonio Buckner, PFD operations noncommissioned officer. "It's great to meet with our counterparts here in the Nation's Capital. Usually we only interact via e-mail and it's nice to put a face to the name."

USAPAT plans, coordinates and conducts worldwide executive airlift in support of U.S. Army Senior Leaders, DoD Executives, Congressional Delegations and Combatant Commanders. They serve as the U.S. Army Proponency for C-20 and C-37 Executive Jet Aircraft.

"I feel like having this homecoming celebration builds teamwork and gives each of the Soldiers here an opportunity to spend some time with their counterparts," said Maki.

"Seeing that the entire command came out to welcome us really shows how much they care," said Buckner. "It was only a four-month tour, but I was still away from home. I'm looking forward to getting back to Hawaii and just relaxing."

Related Links:

U.S. Army Air Operations Group

U.S. Army Priority Air Transport Command

U.S. Army Military District of Washington