ND Aviation Soldiers Back in U.S. - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Soldiers with the North Dakota Army National Guard's headquarters and headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment (Security and support) arrived in the United States early Friday Morning. The unit based in Bismarck, North Dakota deployed to Kosovo last September in support of Kosovo Force (KFOR) 15, a NATO peacekeeping operation.

55 soldiers from the 1-112th Aviation Regiment are safely back home on American soil. "We are so grateful to them and their families for their outstanding service and for the incredible sacrifice they have made for our state and nation," said Governor Jack Dalrymple. "We look forward to welcoming them home to North Dakota and their families."

The Guard Soldiers will complete demobilization briefings, healthcare checks and paperwork at Camp Atterbury, Ind. for about a week before they're back in North Dakota.

While deployed, the aviation Task Force comprised of united from North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin and New Jersey, was charged to form a cohesive team to provide aviation support to the mission of preserving a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all throughout Kosovo.

Since taking over the mission, Aviation Task Force flew more than 2,800 accident-free hours, transported more than 2,600 passengers and 238 tons of supplies and equipment. They completed 30 MEDEVAC missions to transport 37 soldiers or contractors to a higher level of care, and trained nearly 5,000 U.S. and multi-national soldiers on how to safetly load and unload a lift and MEDEVAC aircraft.