Sgt. Angel Perez of Virginia Beach receives a warm welcome home from young members of his family Dec. 10, 2011 in Sandston, Virginia. Perez was one of more than 200 Soldiers from the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command to return to Virginia after serving in Iraq since April 2011. The Soldiers are the main body of about 325 total Soldiers from the unit returning to Virginia. They returned to the United States Dec. 3 and 4 and conducted a number of different administrative and reintegration demobilization activities at Fort Hood, Texas to transition from active duty back to traditional National Guard status prior to returning to Virginia. The Soldiers officially began federal active duty Feb. 25. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia Department of Military Affairs)