Team Seymour welcomes Airmen home

by By Staff Sgt. Michael Charles
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/9/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Nearly 300 Airmen and several F-15 Strike Eagles assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, returned here during the week, from a deployment to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia.

Following their return, service members were reunited with their loved ones during a reception ceremony on the flight line.

"We've had a very important job to do during these past several months, said Lt. Col. Todd Dyer," 4th Fighter Wing pilot and squadron commander. "It's great to comeback to such a warm reception."

Among the families awaiting the Airmen's return was Jenevieve Green, a fiancé of a returning Airman, who was anxious to see her future husband face to face for the first time in months.

"I was excited to see him return," Green said. "It's going to be exciting to finally return to normalcy. I no longer have to make sure our schedules are synced so I can talk to him. I get to see him every day."

Each Airman was also personally greeted and thanked by members of the wing and 4 FW senior leaders for their commitment to service.

"It's humbling to see that many people and wing leadership stand by us the way that the 4th Fighter Wing did," said Senior Airman Zenetra Burage, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron fuels system repair specialist. "It really instilled me with a sense of closure to my first deployment."

The Airmen were deployed to enhance regional partnerships, support regional security exercises, and demonstrate a continued commitment to regional security and stability
Burage went on to express her pride in being able to serve her country during the deployment.

"Being away from home is never fun however, having the opportunity to help our country uphold an ideal as important as freedom is special." Burage said. "It felt good to know that for a few months I was a key component in helping with this global mission."
Following their welcome ceremony the Airmen were released to spend time with their families.

"Our loved ones have supported us so much over the course of the long deployment," Dyer said. "We're glad to finally be back at Seymour Johnson and reunited with them."