By Iain Jaramillo, NMNG Public Affairs
NMNG Aviators return from deployment to Afghanistan
(Photos by Joseph Vigil, NMNG Chief of Public Affairs)
SANTA FE, N.M. – Friends and family gathered for a welcome home ceremony at the Santa Fe Aviation Readiness Center here Aug. 31 to celebrate the return of aviators from Detachment 6, Alpha Company, 245th Aviation, following a successful nine-month deployment.
Six New Mexico National Guard aviators deployed to Afghanistan last December, where they conducted electronic warfare missions in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
“It is with great pleasure that I report that we are mission complete,” said Maj. Rudy Salcido, the commander of Det. 6. “All personnel are accounted for. Just to know that we are finally getting every Soldier back home to their families makes this a successful mission.”Salcido spoke to the families in the audience about the importance of their mission and about the professionalism with which the detachment conducted their mission.
“The times that we faced together were not the easiest of times,” said Salcido. “Everybody that deployed has their own personal tribulations and challenges, but they put all of it aside to make the mission happen. They got there, they received their mission and they executed.”
Salcido took an emotional moment to recognize each Soldier who deployed with him individually and congratulate them for a job well done. He praised their dedication to the mission and to each other as a team.
Sgt. Lee Kingsley demonstrated that dedication by signing a 6-year re-enlistment contract during the deployment.
“When I saw that Lee was on this mission with us, I knew that the team was set,” Salcido said. “We are all extremely proud of you.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric Roberts also displayed his willingness to sacrifice by missing the first five months of his son Oscar’s life.
“We were supporting a good mission and making a difference out there,” said Roberts. “So being away from our families and making that sacrifice was definitely worth it. Our hearts were with our families, and I think that by focusing on them and on each other, it allowed us to do our jobs better over there.”
Roberts had the opportunity to briefly return to his wife Elizabeth for the birth of their son, but was back with the unit shortly afterward.
“The best part for me was knowing that he was with such a good group of guys,” Elizabeth said. “They didn’t have to let him come home for the birth, but they all jumped on it and put themselves in his shoes. I couldn’t have done it without him and so I couldn’t have done it without them either.”
Sgt. 1st Class David Muniz, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the detachment, presented a plaque containing the unit guidon to Salcido for his support of the team.
Roberts, Muniz and Kingsley were all awarded the Air Medal for their actions during the deployment.
“We’re very proud of you for the services that you rendered to our nation,” Said Maj. Gen. Kenneth A. Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico. “You did a very important mission. And we thank you for that. We’re just so happy to have you home.”
The ceremony concluded with the Soldiers and their families removing the yellow ribbons they placed on a pine tree when the unit deployed, which signifies the return of military personnel who served far from home.
