Welcome home: 300-plus Airmen return from AOR

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  More than 300 Airmen returned here from Southwest Asia Jan. 19 and were met with open arms by family, friends and co-workers.

"I can't wait to see my husband's face when he meets our newest addition to the family," was what Tech. Sgt. Shenita Frier, 334th Fighter Squadron, said she was thinking as the MD-11 aircraft was taxiing onto the flightline. While her husband was deployed, Sergeant Frier gave birth to their daughter, Desiraee Frier Nov. 19.

The majority of the deployed Airmen, including Sergeant Frier's husband, Tech. Sgt. David Frier, served a four-month tour to Southwest Asia, missing Thanksgiving and Christmas in the process.

"The holidays were hard, but the support from my family and Air Force family made the holidays joyful," Sergeant Frier said.

Airmen from the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron, 4th Maintenance Operations Squadron, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 336th Fighter Squadron filed into the 916th Air Refueling Wing hangar where family and friends alike had been patiently waiting for several hours.

While they waited, members of the Airman and Family Readiness Center were there to provide their support and assistance.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center is responsible for preparing the return location, including handing out flags to the families and setting up the bouncy castle for the children while they waited, said Marilyn Roseborough, Airman and Family Readiness Center flight chief. We coordinate with Army and Air Force Exchange Services, who provides beverages and snacks for the families and take care of family needs as they arise.

This was the largest deployment return since May 2006, according to 1st Lt. Shannon Decker, 4th Fighter Wing installation deployment officer.