Several Joint Base Lewis-McChord airmen who deployed to Kuwait for six months returned to their families Friday.
The members were assigned to support combat operations throughout their deployment at the Ali Al Salem Air Base. They are assigned to the 62nd Airlift Wing and 627th Air Base Group, according to a JBLM news release.
"More than 150 Airmen supported the Lead Wing mission there for six months as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and 386th Expeditionary Air Base Group," the release said.
Col. Sergio Anaya, commander for the 62nd Airlift Wing, said the 386th AEW provided support to joint and coalition forces to dissuade violent extremist organizations "in a highly complex environment," the release said. The team also provided airlift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.
"These efforts led to the execution of over 3,600 sorties, 14,000 flight hours, and more than 8,000 hours of armed overwatch projecting combat power across the [United States Central Command]'s theater," Anaya said in the release.
He said the wing also implemented a presidential directive to deliver food and supplies to the people in Gaza, executing 78 airdrop missions.
The Airmen also hosted the first-ever Women, Peace and Security symposium in Kuwait, the release said.
"The event was open to women and men, and highlighted women's meaningful participation in peace and security efforts in the United States and Kuwait and the powerful, statistically informed impact that such engagement has on the economic, political and international stability of a region," Anaya said in the release.
The release said that family and friends reunited with the airmen on the JBLM terminal for a homecoming celebration.
"We are so excited to be home after a tough, challenging, yet rewarding deployment," Col. Jeremy Sheppard, 627th ABG deputy commander, said in the release. "We're excited to reintegrate with families, and I'm so very proud of this team and everything we were able to accomplish."
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