It's good to be home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Family members, loved ones and friends all gathered at the Pride Hangar on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 25, 2012, anxiously anticipating the arrival of their Airmen returning home following a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia.

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As with any deployment, Airmen and their loved ones were able to use technology to keep in contact with each other and cope with the challenges of being apart.

"Six months is a long time," said Capt. Angela Turner, 28th Bomb Wing executive officer, who was awaiting the arrival of her husband, Capt. Randall Turner, 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "It seemed especially long because of the holidays. I was lucky -- being in the military I was able to call in the morning through DSN (Defense Switched Network) and Skype at night."

The Airman and Family Readiness Center offers monthly events and activities for family members of deployed military members. The center also has a special reading program called United Through Reading, where Airmen can record themselves reading a book prior to their departure, and then leave that book for their children to read along with them at times when they especially miss their deployed Airman or just want to hear their voice.

Many families of the deployed Airmen were able to find mutual support both from each other and from their respective units.

"Emotionally it's hard, but I have a good support network at my unit," said Master Sgt. Jennifer Dreier, 28th Medical Operations Squadron dental operations flight chief as she awaited the arrival of her husband, Master Sgt. Jeffery Dreier, 34th AMU production superintendent.

Deployments are not easy for those deployed or their families at home, but homecomings are wonderful events for everyone.

"Being back with my family is indescribable, I missed them a lot," said Lt. Col. John Martin, 34th Bomb Squadron commander. "I'm happy to be with them again."