Welcome Home!

Staff Sgt. Francisco Alcocer, 944th Security Forces Squadron member, kisses his children Jan. 5 after returning from a six-month deployment to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Alcocer and 36 other security forces members were welcomed home at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport following their activation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout)

Security forces return home

Published Jan. 11, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Stephen Razo
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Thirty-nine members of the 944th Security Forces Squadron returned home safely following a seven-month deployment to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq.

As part of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, the reservists provided security of the perimeter fence and gates.

"My guys were outstanding and were consistently praised on the quality of their work," said Senior Master Sgt. Gary Van Goethem, 944th SFS squadron leader.

The deployment force also supported active duty Army and Air Force units involved with Raven, sniper, and K-9 missions. For most members, it was not their first deployment to Iraq. In fact, for Sergeant Van Goethem, it was his third.

"Last time there, my mission was outside the wire supporting convoys. Each deployment has been different," Sergeant Van Goethem said. "A return deployment is never outside the realm of possibility for reserve security police forces."

If the call comes again, Sergeant Van Goethem declares that they "will go back when we are needed."