Nebraska school principal welcomed home from deployment

Iowa Air National Guard 1st Sgt. Drew Wagner hugs a teacher at a welcome home event in his honor at the Fort Calhoun Elementary School in Fort Calhoun, Neb., April 21, 2022. Wagner, the school principal, had just returned from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia.

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Iowa Air National Guard 1st Sgt. Drew Wagner hugs a teacher at a welcome home event in his honor at the Fort Calhoun Elementary School in Fort Calhoun, Neb., April 21, 2022. Wagner, the school principal, had just returned from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia.

1st Sgt. Drew Wagner high fives students at a welcome home event in his honor at the Fort Calhoun Elementary School in Fort Calhoun, Neb., April 21, 2022, after his six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. Wagner is the school principal and has served in the Iowa Air National Guard for 20 years.

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1st Sgt. Drew Wagner high fives students at a welcome home event in his honor at the Fort Calhoun Elementary School in Fort Calhoun, Neb., April 21, 2022, after his six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. Wagner is the school principal and has served in the Iowa Air National Guard for 20 years.

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Fort Calhoun, Neb. School Principal welcomed home following Air Force deployment

B-roll video with interview, shows Nebraska Elementary School Principal who is also an Iowa Air National Guard First Sergeant Drew Wagner at a welcome home event in Fort Calhoun, Neb. following his six-month-long deployment to the Middle East with the U. S. Air Force. With the help of select members of the school faculty, students and staff were part of a surprise homecoming assembly for Wagner at Fort Calhoun Elementary on April 21, 2022. All of the students and teachers gathered in the gymnasium where Wagner was reunited with what he referred to as his second family. During his deployment Wagner was stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates where he had been serving as First Sergeant for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. As a member of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, Wagner deployed to Al Dhafra last fall. Wagner was met by over a dozen other members of his Iowa Air National Guard unit during his deployment to Al Dhafra, even though they deployed separately. Wagner works full time as the principle in Fort Calhoun, Neb. but has also been serving as a member of the Iowa Air National Guard for 20 years. As part of the 185th ARW, Wagner serves as the Mission Support Group First Sergeant. Wagner said this is his first overseas deployment since joining the Air National Guard. According to the 380th AEW website, the United States Air Forces Central is responsible for air operations and contingency planning for the 20-nation area of responsibility in Southwest Asia. Wagner said he plans to be on military leave through the end of the school year but plans to resume his duties as principle at the begging on the new school year this fall. Lower Thirds Drew Wagner 185th Air Refueling Wing 1st Sgt. / Fort Calhoun, Neb. Elementary School Principle

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. – Iowa Air National Guard 1st Sgt. Drew Wagner was welcomed home at the elementary school where he is the principal following a six-month deployment overseas.

Wagner said that in a small town like Fort Calhoun, the deployment involved everyone in the community.

“They wrapped us up in a big hug while I was away,” the Citizen-Airman said. “There is nothing like coming home to a warm welcome like this.”

Wagner was stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, serving as the first sergeant for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Wagner deployed to Al Dhafra last fall as a member of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing based in Sioux City, Iowa. He was one of about 50 Iowa Air National Guard members from Sioux City who are now returning from the Arabian Peninsula.

Wagner is the full-time principal in Fort Calhoun and has been serving for 20 years in the Iowa Air Guard, where he is one of the wing’s first sergeants.

Wagner said his jobs as a school principal and first sergeant have always been complementary, and his deployment experience will help him be more successful in both positions.

“People are our business. We want to make sure we take care of people,” Wagner said. “My philosophy is, be there when your Airmen need you.”

This was Wagner’s first overseas deployment since joining the Air National Guard. While he is thrilled to be home, he plans to be on military leave through the end of the school year and resume his duties as principal in the fall.