Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, which is at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., are greeted at the Newport News, Va., airport by family and coworkers Nov. 2, 2011 . The two were part of a group of Airmen that deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in June, but returned a couple of months early after President Obama announced the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
Members from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron ride on a bus to the Newport News, Va., airport to welcome home fellow squadron members Staff Sgt. John Duncan, Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd, and Airman Basic Joseph Wesley on Nov. 2, 2011. The four Airmen deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in June, but returned home a couple of months early after President Obama announced the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. The 633rd SFS is out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
Yellow ribbons on a map represent where members from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, which is at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., are deployed Nov. 2, 2011. Soon, Staff Sgt. John Duncan, Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd, and Airman Basic Joseph Wesley will position their ribbons back stateside after returning from their recent deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
Members from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron welcome home Staff Sgt. John Duncan, Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd, and Airman Basic Joseph Wesley on Nov. 2, 2011, at the Newport News, Va., airport. The four Airmen were among about 20 633rd SFS members who returned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., from deployment with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in the past week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
Airman Basic Joseph Wesley, from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., gets on a bus after being greeted at the Newport News, Va., airport by family and coworkers Nov. 2, 2011. He was among about 20 633rd SFS members who returned to JB Langley from deployment with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Balad in the past week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
Members from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, which is at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., ride back to base on a bus after welcoming home and picking up Staff Sgt. John Duncan, Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd, and Airman Basic Joseph Wesley from the airport Nov. 2, 2011. The four Airmen were deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. About 10 633rd SFS members are still deployed in Iraq, but they are scheduled to return later this month, although more are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the next few months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)
11/4/2011 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) -- Security forces members here moved their yellow ribbon magnets from Iraq to Virginia on the map in their squadron's heritage room to symbolize the homecoming of four more fellow defenders Nov. 2.
The recently returned members of the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, who were deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, will be recognized in the squadron's monthly hails and farewells Nov. 10.
"These are absolutely special days," said Senior Master Sgt. John G. Rogers, the 633rd SFS first sergeant. "What we're trying to show is the whole event, and they can relate to that. The (Airmen) who came back last week are standing out there now to welcome these (Airmen) back. That goes a long way, especially for those (Airmen) who haven't even left yet. In some ways, it motivates them. They want that feeling of accomplishment, too."
The security forces members welcomed home Staff Sgt. John Duncan, Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd, and Airman Basic Joseph Wesley. The four Airmen deployed in June but returned a couple of months early after President Obama announced the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. They were among about 20 633rd SFS members who, in the past week, returned here from deployment with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at JB Balad. About 10 633rd SFS members are still deployed in Iraq, but they are scheduled to return later this month, although more are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the next few months.
"We're dedicated 100 percent to taking care of the defender and building resiliency, so we make it a big deal when they come home," said Lt. Col. Scott Foley, the 633rd SFS commander. "I think we have a great process to train warriors and send them downrange to do their mission. In a line unit like this, every defender's on the hot spot to deploy. Over the last few years, security forces has been extremely busy with deployments. So we make it a big deal when they come home and get them back with their families."
Milo Robles Cruz was born only a month before his father left for combat skills training. Although he returned for a few weeks before he deployed in June, Robles Cruz still felt a little guilty for having to leave his baby with his wife, Senior Airman Alyssa Robles Sweeney, who is also a 633rd SFS member. They deployed together in 2009, but this was the first deployment that separated the new parents. Robles Cruz also was worried about whether his son would even remember his father when he came home, but the homecoming this week alleviated all of his fears.
"I was kind of nervous he wouldn't recognize me," he said. "I was nervous when I picked him up, he'd start crying. But he didn't, he just started laughing when he saw me. I was amazed he was so big. When I left him, he was so small. He could sit down, and he could crawl. Even though I got to see him a couple of times on Skype and videos, it wasn't the same as seeing him, holding him and feeling how heavy he is."
The squadron has several programs, such as the nine key spouses, that assist squadron leaders with the care of the deployed defender's family and help ease the transition home. The squadron has an embedded chaplain, Capt. Mike Hayhurst, and an Airman who, as the commander's executive, publishes a newsletter every two months and assists Foley with sending personal letters to every deployed defender's parents upon departure and return. The purpose of the letters, according to squadron leaders, is to tell the military members' families how proud the squadron is of the deployers, as well as to relay that their loved ones have made it home safe and their mission overseas is complete. Members also are assigned a "battle buddy" when they return from deployments. The battle buddy is a fellow defender who did not deploy on the returnee's deployment; he or she acts as a friend to look out for the returned deployer, but also looks out for signs of transition problems or concerns.
Prominently displayed in Foley's office is a helmet of retired Staff Sgt. Nick Bradley, a security forces wounded warrior who was severely injured in Afghanistan. The helmet was a present from Bradley for appreciation but serves as a daily reminder to Foley of the risks defenders face each time they deploy and the ultimate responsibility of a commander to prepare combat ready, resilient, air-minded defenders.
"It reminds me every single day how dangerous our business is," Foley said. "From a personal side, I'm relieved every time a full bus goes out, and a full bus comes home. But I'm not naive enough to think just because I may not see battle scars on the outside, there may not be battle scars on the inside. So I have the entire staff focused on making sure their transition home is a positive one."
Surprisingly, for a squadron with a heavy deployment tempo, its first sergeant has noticed many members often are ready for another deployment not long after they come home. Rogers said he attributes this to getting accustomed to the adrenaline, as well as that they often feel the impact of their work in a deployment environment more than they do with their home base duties. He also has observed more than a few Airmen make significant growth as security forces members during the months they are deployed.
"You'll see the average Airman go out and deploy, and just because of that environment, where they have to step up, they will come back as superstars," Rogers said. "They might have been borderline, with just an average, standard performance, but I think it gives them a reason to be here. Over there, they see, 'My life's on the line or somebody else's life is on the line,' and they're driven by that. I've seen guys leave out the door 50 pounds overweight and come back rock-solid, superstars. What happens is they've turned into leaders."
Comments
11/7/2011 11:51:04 AM ET Welcome home. Thank you for your service to our country.
Susan Katz Keating, www.susankatzkeating.com
11/5/2011 9:37:59 AM ET We are glad you are all home and reall proud of you.
LTC Foley, LAFB VA
11/4/2011 6:05:22 PM ET Let me get this right. You deploy a Airman Basic down range having not giving them enough time to learn the job. Then you send people 50lbs overweight hoping they come back in shape. Both issues are screaming foul. One isn't remotely ready to conduct operations down range, even if they were inside the wire, which they proably were. And then you send some physically unfit to do he job regardless of how much experience they have. Makes a person go hmmmmmm.
Will, NE
11/4/2011 5:23:18 PM ET 1st off... Welcome Home. 2nd.... Looks like the Air Force forgot once again what happened here in USAFE not long ago when picking up soliders from the airport in a blue goose. Ironically, they where Security Forces as well.. Funny how Force Protection goes out the window, just cause your home doesn't mean your not a target still.....
Eagle Crew Chief, USAFE
11/4/2011 5:16:14 PM ET And welcome back to you. Thank you for all you do for our country.
KR, Sheppard AFB
11/4/2011 4:24:42 PM ET Why are you deploying Airmen that are 50 pounds overweight? Hopefully not as defenders. War zones are not fat camps.
JB, Ft Bragg NC
11/4/2011 2:54:22 PM ET It feels pretty good to be on the Air Force website. Is also good to be home.
