After flying nearly 2,900 hours in Kosovo while supporting more than 1,100 missions, the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, returned to Alaska Nov. 17.

The Guard members have been deployed since November 2008, spending time furthering their training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and Hohenfels, Germany, before landing in Kosovo in February where they supported a peacekeeping and peace enforcement mission.

While in Kosovo, the Guardsmen provided aviation support to U.S. forces and Coalition forces with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hanson is reunited with his children Makenna, 18-months, Talyn, three years old, and wife Kathleen Nov. 17 on the Alaska National Guard drill hall floor. Hanson deployed to Kosovo on a year-long tour with B Company, 207th Aviation as a supply sergeant. PHOTO BY SGT. KARIMA TURNER, ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS

"The 1/207th Aviation Regiment was highly praised by U.S., NATO and coalition partner leaders for their professionalism in providing air movement, reconnaissance, surveillance, aero-medical evacuation and helicopter fire-fighting capabilities throughout Kosovo," said Lt. Col. Jeff Roach, 1/207th Aviation commander. "Having the 1/207th Aviation Regiment present in Kosovo allowed NATO and coalition partners to provide a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo and ensured freedom of movement for all."

According to Roach, the most significant event during the deployment was providing air transportation throughout Kosovo to Vice President Joe Biden and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on separate occasions.

The unit also maintained day and night quick-reaction forces and was the first in the U.S. Army to transport the French-made VBL armored vehicle with a Black Hawk helicopter.

"Our Alaska Army National Guard members transported more than 8,000 passengers and successfully completed an important security mission to help maintain a peaceful environment in a region that has seen conflicts with its new, emerging government and social structure," said Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Katkus, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. "We are proud of our Soldiers for providing critical aviation support to the NATO commander of Kosovo Forces to ensure stability in the region."

The unit, which is headquartered at Bryant Army Guard Airfield on Fort Richardson, brought eight Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters on the deployment. Guard members on the mission hailed from Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, Soldotna, Fairbanks, Nome, Bethel and Juneau.

The 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation is the most deployed unit in the Alaska National Guard having previously deployed elements to Kosovo in 2004, as well as fulfilling missions in Iraq, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras.