Claremore Pilot Back Home After Afghanistan Training Mission

A Claremore man is back on the home front and taking a break from training pilots in Afghanistan. Major Brad Foster is on a two week leave and visiting family and friends in Rogers County.

Major Brad Foster recently made headlines for Air Force News Afghanistan. The Claremore native trains Afghani pilots, the future of that country's air force.

"I love flying and teaching. It's rewarding, and it's something I wanted to do since I was a kid. I'm living my dream really," Major Foster said.

Major Foster is home now, relaxing for two weeks and spending time with his proud grandparents.

Major Foster spent the first 5 months of his one year deployment in Iraq. He was transferred to Afghanistan after the Iraq drawdown.

His eight man squadron is training seven Afghani's. He says it's hard work, with hardly a day off, but well worth it. A message he hopes his fellow Americans understand.

"Well, I want them to know that...not to forget that we are doing a good job, we're helping these people," he said.

Major Foster says a homecoming, like the one he received Tuesday night at the airport, is proof that even though our servicemen and women are thousands of miles away they are certainly not forgotten.

The major is a 1997 graduate of Claremore High School and a 2002 grad of the Air Force Academy. This job is what he was born to do.

"I can't believe I get paid for this. It's something I've had a passion for my whole life, to fly, and now I can do this in such historic times. That means so much for a great, friendly country," he said.

Major Foster is scheduled to go back to Afghanistan on March 18th. He'll serve there until this summer then go back to his base in Charleston, South Carolina.