Forty-four Rochester-based New York Army National Guard Soldiers have returned to the United States after an eight-month deployment to Afghanistan.
The Soldiers, members of Charlie Company of the 1st battalion 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, are conducting demobilization at Fort Bliss, Texas after arriving there late on November 7. Two of the Soldiers remained behind to assist incoming troops with the transition and will return to the U.S. later.
The 46 Soldiers are expected to return to their homes in New York around November 22.
Charlie Company is a medical evacuation unit, which flies the UH-60 Black Hawk air ambulance helicopter. The company is based at the Patriot Way Armory and the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport.
The unit mobilized for deployment on January 2, 2019 and deployed to Afghanistan after 45 days of training at Fort Bliss. Unit aircraft flew 90 combat missions in Afghanistan, transporting 167 patients.
Charlie Company aircrews flew a total of 2,400 flight hours in support of medical evacuation missions and general battlefield circulation.
The company provided medical evacuation and personnel recovery for Coalition units training and advising the Afghan Army and police in the south, southwest and western areas of Afghanistan. This covers about half the country.
The National Guard Soldiers supported conventional forces, Special Forces and Afghan military during their tour.
Company Soldiers were awarded 108 Air Medals for the C-for combat-identifier. Soldiers also earned fifty Army Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals and a Bronze Star.
Three of the Soldiers became fathers during the deployment.
Provided information and photo
