Oregon Guard Troops Return from Afghanistan (PHOTOS)

Oregon Soldiers arrive at Portland International Airport tonight following Afghanistan deployment‏.

An Oregon Army National Guardsmen (left), trains a member of the Afghan National Army, Aug. 1008, near the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. (All photos by Charles Eckert)

(SALEM, Ore.) - Members of the Oregon Army National Guard are scheduled to return to the Portland International Airport at approximately 7:00 PM, following a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.

The Soldiers were part of an Embedded Training Team, which helped train members of the Afghan National Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The unit was commanded by Lt. Col. Keith Ensley.

Of the original 17 members, nine were set to return tonight. The others will join them for the demobilization ceremony on December 16th, 2008 at 11:30 AM at the Anderson Readiness Center, located at 3225 State Street, Salem, OR 97309.

In the accompanying photos, members of the Oregon Army National Guard, along with members of the Afghan National Army, help carry wounded personnel to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter near the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in August 2008.

In tghe bottom photo, Capt. Phillip Chik, of the Oregon Army National Guard, meets with Afghani tribal leaders in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in July 2008. Members of Chik's unit helped train Afghan National Army members during Operation Enduring Freedom.