Langley SFS welcomes home deployed defenders

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  • By Randy Roughton
  • Defense Media Activity
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."