MILFORD, Mass. -- We often hear of the men and women on the front lines in Iraq, but every day members of the Air National Guard are backing up those soldiers with the tools they need to complete their missions.

NewsCenter Five's Lynn Jolicoeur reported on the homecoming for a Milford-based Air Guard unit, on Sunday.

“The 212th can be very proud of the road and the path you cut through this future of change,” said Gen. Scott Rice, addressing members of the guard.

The Massachusetts National Guard formally welcomed home 19 members of the 212th Engineering Installation Squadron, who recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The things we do over there allow the people doing the war fighting to do their job better and safer,” said Lt. Col. Scott Dumford.

Unlike soldiers and Marines, who are deployed for over a year or more, air men and women go overseas for four months, and most of their time is spent on military bases.

The unit installs cables, towers and other components of military communications systems. After former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazhir Bhutto was assassinated, they scrambled to install a system to help U.S. citizens there.

“Making sure, you know, we could get the airlift out. That was a key piece to the communications for getting people out of Pakistan,” said Lt. Col. Mark Kelley.

For Chief Master Sgt. Pete Rauktis, this was the second deployment to Iraq in less than two years. He left behind four grandchildren, and came home with a perspective most New Englanders can appreciate.

“Just like any big sports team, if one part of it falls down, it’s going to cause a problem, so everyone has an important mission over there,” said Rauktis.