POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — After one year in Afghanistan, nearly 150 members of the 3rd Battalion of the 82nd Airborne's Combat Aviation Brigade returned home on Tuesday.

Soldiers spent the year conducting air assaults, most recently into the Marja area, and providing cargo support and medical evacuations. Soldiers arrived at Fort Bragg’s Pope Air Force Base just before noon.

Chief Warrant Officer Albert Comacho returned to his growing daughter, Mia.

“She was like 1 year old when I left, so it’s pretty awesome to be back,” Comacho said.

Sgt. Amos Hudson said he has been anticipating his return home for a couple of days.

“It feels good to hold her again, to know that I’m home for good this time,” Hudson said while holding his daughter.

For Comacho, the return home was like a dream.

“It’s just surreal coming home after being gone a year and seeing how much they’ve grown up,” he said of his family.