Airmen from 180th Fighter Wing to return home Tuesday from Afganistan

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, Lt. Col. Philippe Brule, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, greets his family for the first time after returning home from a three-month Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2021. The fighter jets were part of a 12 aircraft, 300 Airman aviation package deployed to the Central Command Area of Responsibility, in support of Operation Resolute Support, enhancing our nation’s National Security Objectives. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker.

Airmen assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing are scheduled to return home Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 12:30 p.m., following overseas deployments throughout the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

Throughout 2020, more than 400 Stinger Airmen deployed to seven countries within the CENTCOM region to support several individual, six-month, Agile Combat Support deployments as well as a three-month Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment.

The individual ACS deployments began departing the 180FW between April and July. While those ACS members who deployed in early spring began returning home in October, the summer ACS deployers began returning home this month, with the final Airmen returning home Tuesday.

The AEF deployment included a 12 aircraft and 300 Airman aviation package to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The deployments were in support of Operation Resolute Support, enhancing our nation’s national security objectives. The F-16s arrived home Saturday, Jan. 23, and the remaining Airmen will arrive Tuesday.