Welcome home to our soldiers!

In the past two weeks more than 700 soldiers returned home to Colorado Springs, after a year deployment in Afghanistan.  The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was in charge of security, building governmental capacity, and communicating progress to the Afghan people.  Families and friends waited a year for this day, but now are so happy that their loved ones our home.

 

More than 300 Fort Carson soldiers are scheduled to return from overseas this week after 400 were welcomed home Sunday night and Monday afternoon.  About 200 members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division came home Sunday night, with about 200 more returning Monday. These soldiers assisted Afghan Security Forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to help defend and provide for the Afghan people.


The ‘Warhorse’ brigade partnered with Afghan Uniformed Police, Afghan Local Police, Afghan National Army and district-level government officials to defeat the insurgency by expanding security, building governmental capability and capacity and communicating Afghan progress to the Afghan people.


At the homecoming Monday afternoon soldiers said it was good to be home.  "It's wonderful. You can't beat it, nothing like it," Staff Sgt. John Dalgleish said.


Some found it hard to put into words what it felt like.  "It feels great to be back, I can't even describe it," Spc. Nathan Head said.


After nearly a year of being apart, some family members couldn't believe their loved one was actually home.


"It's surreal. It's definitely surreal. I won't believe it until he's taken out the garbage," Jessica Knicely said.


About 200 more soldiers from the brigade are scheduled to return Tuesday afternoon.  The brigade replaced the 1st Brigade Combat Team when they deployed in May and June of 2011.  Early Wednesday morning, about 130 soldiers from the 615th Construction Engineer Company will be welcomed back to the Mountain Post.


These soldiers were deployed to Bahrain for post-wide security operations and operated out of Isa Air Base. They were required to provide tower security around the post; provide Airfield Security for all naval aircraft entering and exiting Isa airfield and were personally responsible for all vehicle inspections conducted prior to venturing onto the base.

For more information please see the Colorado Connection.