Photo by Siobhan Carlile (Right) Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general leads the procession of Soldiers and Family members lining up to greet members of the 278th Military Police Company as they arrive at Fort Gordon from deployment just in time for Christmas festivities. Santa made a very special delivery in the wee hours of Christmas morning as 112 Soldiers were reunited with their Families and friends after a year in Iraq.

The 278th Military Police Company (Georgia Army National Guard) arrived at Warner Robbins Air Force Base about 3 a.m. Christmas morning and was promptly give a four-day pass to spend with lovedones.

After a few days off with their families, they reported to Fort Gordon Dec. 29 for a welcome ceremony and their postdeployment medical and personnel processing.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U. S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general, welcomed the Soldiers home, "Most of you don't know me but I know you. I know of your service and I want to say thank you for your service to your nation and your sacrifices… Welcome back. We're proud to have you here at Fort Gordon," he said.

Photo by Siobhan Carlile The 278th Military Police company commander and guidon bearer render honors during the ceremony welcoming the unit back to Fort Gordon after nearly a one year deployment. Major General Terry Nesbitt, Adjutant General of the Georgia Army National Guard, welcomed them as well assuring the Soldiers there is no stigma attached to asking for help as they reconnect with Families and friends and their civilian jobs which naturally causes some stress.

"Don't be afraid to ask for help. We are here to help," he said.

The Soldiers attended three days of out-briefings and integration training to assist them and their Families in the transition back to Family and work life. Many Soldiers in the unit are in civilain law enforcement in different capacities according to the unit's executive officer, 1st Lt. Albert Roberts.

Roberts said one of the biggest challenges of the deployment was getting to know the culture. He also said getting used to the environment, blowing sand and dry heat takes some getting used to. But it was worth the effort because the unit was able to make a difference, he said.

"[We could] actually make a difference because we didn't have rounds flying all over the place like there were several years back. We had the unique opportunity to use our minds and our mouths instead of weaponry… Communication was the key word during our deployment," he said.

The 278th left Fort Gordon on Jan. 9, 2008 to train at Fort Dix, N.J., prior to their deployment to Iraq.

Sgt. Jason Ferguson agreed with Roberts that heat was a challenge but he said he missed his Family more than anything else during the deployment. "We planned on getting home later then Christmas, so getting home on Christmas was great, a good surprise."

Ferguson said the mission was similar in a way to his civilian law enforcement job because, "We were finding out what the people needed, it was real up close and personal community oriented stuff." He must have had a positive experience because he said, "Go Army, reenlist, if you're looking for a challenge, go Military Police."

A relatively new Soldier, Spc. James Kleinheinz has already been deployed to Egypt and then to Iraq in the two years he has been in, and he's looking at deploying again soon. "I'm thinking about it (volunteering), by the end of the year I'll probably deploy again."

But for now, "We're all happy to be back," he said. He also has a New Year's resolution to find some sand with water next to it instead of sand with sand next to it.