La. Guard Airmen welcomed home following deployment

 By 2nd Lt Larissa Lambert, 159th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office  

KENNER, La. – Airmen from the 159th Security Forces Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, returned home from a five-month deployment during a welcome-home event in New Orleans, La., Aug 7.

The Airmen were greeted by family, friends and co-workers when they arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport.

“We enjoy meeting the families and friends, passing out flags, designing welcome home signs, while being a part of their new beginning,” said Cherie Spooner, Airman and Family Readiness Program manager. “Homecoming is a family affair and I’m happy that Family Programs is a part of the celebration.”

The unit was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where they provided operational support, strategic readiness, and fostered host-nation relations.

“Our main mission was to protect all the resources and assets for the base,” said 1st Lt Kevin Goodlett, 159 SFS operations officer. “The majority of our guys performed the operational stand point for the main base, but we were also assigned a protection detail for a geographically separated unit.”

This recent deployment marks the eighth in support of OEF for the squadron. The 159 SFS has also participated in emergency response and recovery missions for several hurricanes, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and the ice storms earlier this year.