More than 60 Airmen from the 8th Airlift Squadron returned to McChord Field April 5 after a 60-day deployment to Southwest Asia.

The Airmen were deployed as the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to provide global strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout the assigned areas of responsibility.

"After nearly six months of preparation, the 8th Airlift Squadron showed they were more than ready for combat airlift and airdrop operations in Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. Todd McCoy, 8th AS operations officer. "Whenever global airlift was required, the 8th AS rapidly responded and delivered! When the call came, we were there."

During their deployment, the C-17 squadron flew 213 sorties, equaling more than 1,100 flying hours and transported more than 19 million pounds of cargo and 35,000 troops to and from Afghanistan.

In addition to transporting troops and cargo, members of the squadron also flew numerous airdrop sorties, delivering critical equipment and sustenance to U.S. military forces in and out of the U.S. Central Command area of operations. The aerial delivery of such supplies helped reduce convoys and contributed to keeping troops out harm's way.

"Doing airdrops in deployed environment was a really awesome experience," said 1st Lt. Kelly Mackey, 8th AS pilot. "We were air dropping significantly larger amounts of cargo than we do when training and had a lot more riding on us."

The 8th AS also rose to the unique challenge of delivering a piece of oversized communication equipment to a dirt landing strip in Afghanistan. Such landings are referred to as semi-prepared runway operations.

"The C-17 is the only aircraft that could execute this particular mission," said Capt. Cliff Caldwell, 8th AS pilot and aircraft commander for the mission. "It's very rewarding when you get to employ the jet to its full capacity in order to support the troops on the ground."

The accomplishments of the 8th AS were not strictly in the air. While deployed, members of the squadron also volunteered at a local kindergarten, working to improve the grounds and mentor children.

"I think volunteering at the kindergarten was one of the best experiences I had during this deployment," said Senior Airman Casey Jackson, 8th AS loadmaster. "It felt great to help out the local community and the kids really seemed to enjoy our attention."

Photo: Members of the 8th Airlift Squadron are welcomed home as they return from a 60-day deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, April 5, 2013, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The unit deployed as part of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to provide global strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief.