Army National Guard Spec. Jeremy K. Cowart has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Cowart is a military police member with the 178th Military Police Company, based in Monroe, Ga. The specialist has served in the military for six years.

He is the son of Celisa M. and Gregory D. Cowart of Calhoun.

The specialist graduated in 2002 from Gordon Central High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 2008 from Kennesaw State University.