Home sweet home

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Master Sgt. Bill Allen is greeted by his family after four months in Afghanistan. 40 Rescue Reservists were welcomed by friends and family after they landed here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Natasha Dowridge)

A hero's welcome

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Family members cheer for the Rescue Reservists returning home after being deployed in Afghanistan for four months. The Rescue Reservists served as helicopter crewmembers, maintenance and support personnel as part of the 920th's yearlong deployment to save lives by using their skills and equipment to perform medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations - picking up the injured from combat zones to get them to treatment facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Natasha Dowridge)

Welcome home

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Tech. Sgt. Vincent Brown's, electro environmental systems technician, family eagerly awaits his arrival here. Brown, along with 40 other Rescue Reservists, was deployed to Afghanistan is support of Operation Enduring Freedom for four months. "While deployed, they did a lot of flying, they were all really busy, but it's a great mission and we're all really proud of what they've been doing over there," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing Commander.(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Natasha Dowridge)

Welcome home!

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Staff Sgt. Derek Brandt, Air Force reservist from the 920th Rescue Wing, holds his daughter, Layla Brandt, 2, upon his return home after a 4-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Oct. 3, 2011. During this rotation, the reservists are credited with flying 505 rescue missions; successfully saving 358 lives; and assisting in saving another 287 lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Homecoming hugs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Tech. Sgt. Patrick Gardner, Air Force reservist from the 920th Rescue Wing, hugs his family upon his return home after a 4-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Oct. 3, 2011. During this rotation, the reservists are credited with flying 505 rescue missions; successfully saving 358 lives; and assisting in saving another 287 lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Tale off

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft takes off from the runway at the 920th Rescue Wing here. Rescue Wing Reservists departed to Afghanistan where they will perform life-saving missions. The wing's other peacetime missions include providing local search-and-rescue support for civilians who are lost at sea or in distress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Natasha Dowridge)