4thSOS OpHo

Lt. Col. Megan Ripple, 4th Special Operations Squadron director of operations, receives greetings at the 4th SOS hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 28, 2013. Ripple was part of the first 4th SOS deployment in 2001, and was on the final deployment which departed Oct. 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Parkinson)

4thSOS OpHo

Airmen from the 4th Special Operations Squadron are greeted by friends and families after returning from deployment at the 4th SOS hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 28, 2013. The Airmen who returned are the last of deployed 4th SOS personnel resulting in the entire unit being home for the first time since 2001. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Parkinson)

4th SOS fully returns from 12-year deployment

Published June 28, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Eboni Reams
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The remaining members of the 4th Special Operations Squadron returned from a deployment during Operation Homecoming June 28 here.

More than 50 Airmen disembarked a C-5 Galaxy aircraft, and walked down a red carpet to be greeted by their loved ones.

The squadron has been continuously deployed for more than a decade, making this the first time the entire squadron has been home since 2001. The team was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"It's a great experience to be home again with my family," said Staff Sgt. Clyde Corns, a 4th SOS aerial gunner.

Lt. Col. Meghan Ripple, the 4th SOS director of operations, also expressed her excitement to have the team home.

"Getting everybody back together to rebalance our skill sets and get time with families is an awesome and incredible experience," Ripple said. "The opportunity to have five months at home is also an incredible thing to look forward to."

The 4th SOS plans to celebrate the return of its personnel and gunships July 12 through 15. They will host the inventor of the gunship a special dinner with games and raffles.

"We're excited to get everybody back together and focus on our heritage and the history," Lt. Col. Derek Price said, 4th SOS commander. "At the same time we're taking all the new people just coming home from their first deployments and letting them relax, celebrate and focus on heritage."