New York Army National Guard Aviation Soldiers Home from Afghanistan Deployment

Five Soldiers from from Detachment 20 of the New York Army National Guard's Operational Support Airlift Command, who will arrive today and four Soldiers who returned yesterday aboard a commercial flight.

A short welcome home event for the Nine Army aviation Soldiers and their families at  the Army Aviation Support Facility Hanger at the Divison of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters.

VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Family members welcoming home Soldiers deplaning from a military transport plane outside of the Latham Flight Facility. The Aircraft's flight time to the Latham flight facility is dependent on head winds. The earliest arrival time would be 2:30 p.m. depending on headwinds.

CONTACT: Sgt 1st Class Steven Petibone, 518-786-4581 or cell 518-225-6637 for access to this secure military facility

BACKGROUND:

The Army of Detachment 20, who normally operate C-12 fixed wing aircraft deployed from Latham in March of 2009 to support  Operation ODIN an effort to counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) through aerial surviallance. The aviation Soldiers flew intelligence, security and reconnaissance (ISR) missions that assisted Soldiers on the ground. Det. 20 operated six aircraft located at both Bagram and Kandahar, Afghanistan, flying more than 3800 hours during their deployment and receiving the Army Air Medal.