South Dakota Army National Guard Detachment 48 will be honored at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, during a public welcome at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rapid City Regional Airport.

Returning soldiers include five pilots and two operations specialists who flew a variety of support missions at seven airports in Afghanistan and traveled throughout eight countries. Since starting the mission in February, the group has been awarded seven medals for service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the war against terrorism.