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Operation Exodus helps welcome soldiers returning home for the holidays

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 3,000 of the Army's newest soldiers flew through Charlotte Douglas Airport on Wednesday.

[RELATED: Navy sailors deployed before holidays say tearful goodbyes to loved ones]

For the past seven weeks, the soldiers have been stretched to the limits by grueling physical and mental challenges at basic training.

On Wednesday morning they boarded their flights to go home for Christmas.

The troops are also excited to have phones and coffee again because they've lived without them while training at Fort Jackson in Columbia.

The soldiers endure a lot of difficulties at basic training, so the United Service Organizations wanted to roll out the red carpet for them.

Spc. Allison Johnson said, "We stepped off the bus and were greeted with smiles and we haven't really gotten that the past seven weeks, so it was great to see that people were excited to see us."

The nonprofit greeted troops with food and gifts.

[RELATED: Where CLT lands on ranking of best airports for holiday travel]

Johnson said she's counting down the hours until she she's back in Illinois with her husband.

"I'm definitely going to hug and kiss him," said Johnson.

Spc. Chrystal Camacho tells Channel 9 she's flying home to Nashville for Christmas.

"Christmas morning will be filled with pumpkin spice, eggnog, lights flashing on the Christmas tree," said Camacho.

Camacho is an officer candidate, so when she flies back in two weeks she'll start even more intense training.

She believes this quick break with family will sharpen her focus and help carry her through the final 12 weeks of training.

"I think being here you really realize the importance of family and how much of a sense of purpose they give you. That's what has carried me through," she said.

Nationwide, approximately 43,000 new soldiers are flying home for the holidays.

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