BELGRADE — Sgt. Ryan McCarthy recently returned from a year-long tour of duty in Afghanistan. McCarthy, the son of Ted and Wendy McCarthy of Belgrade, is a U.S. Army combat engineer assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.

His unit was primarily responsible for route clearance operations in Wardak and Logar provinces in Afghanistan. Upon his return, McCarthy was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Combat Action Badge. He will attend the Sapper Leadership course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., over the next month and begin his new assignment at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Ala., this spring.