Airmen, Guardsmen Welcomed Home

By Alex McVeigh, Pentagram Staff WriterApril 9, 2010

Airmen, Guardsmen welcomed home
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Airmen, Guardsmen welcomed home
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Airmen, Guardsmen welcomed home
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Families gathered at Hangar 8 at Andrews Air Force Base Tuesday afternoon to welcome home servicemembers from a 60-day phased deployment to Balad, Iraq.

The F-16 Aviation package from the D.C. Air National Guard joined with units from South Dakota and New Jersey. They shared F-16 aircraft and parts over the two months.

The group was deployed Jan. 29 to support ground commanders with defensive counter-air, close-air support and reconnaissance operations. The deployment included pilots, maintenance staff and support personnel.

The last deployment for the wing was in 2006. Although guard members maintain operations and complete missions with their unit, if they fall under an Air Force deployment window, the unit is called to serve.

The wing also has to balance its deployed resources with the resources needed to continue the mission at Andrews Air Force Base.