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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Families were snapping pictures and hugging their returning family members as 230 Fort Carson soldiers were welcomed home Thursday morning after being gone since February.

"They have given their everything, they don't think of themselves. They think of you, me, everyone," Vicki Ellis, Mother of Spc. Jacob Ellis, said. "Thank goodness for computers, because without them we wouldn't be able to talk."

"It's still hard because a lot of times he wouldn't be there you know, and you're wishing he was there to find out that he was okay." Mark Ellis, Jacob's father, said.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team were spread out over four provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan as part of Task Force Mountain Warrior over the past 10 months.

During the mission Task Force Mountain Warriors helped the Afghan Security Forces distribute 500 tons of grain, 64,000 pounds of food and products to citizens displaced by the fighting in remote mountainous regions of eastern Nuristan.

First Lt. Michael Masty had someone very special awaiting his return, an addition he had never met.

"It's an indescribable feeling! Being with my family who has been so supportive the last 9 months. My little daughter has been waiting her whole life to meet me. It's amazing, first time I have seen her," Masty said.

Now he is looking forward to some quality home time, plus enjoying things that many of us take for granted.

"Spend time with the family and take a nice long shower, without the fear of running out of hot water. And maybe get a Chipotle burrito," Masty said.

As many as 1,597 of the 3,000 soldiers who deployed earned fist-time combat badges: 685 Combat Infantry Badges, 114 Combat Medical Badges and 798 Combat Action Badges.

Fort Carson will welcome home 280 more soldiers from the 4th BCT early Friday morning.