This TV news anchor deployed to Afghanistan. He’s now a qualified sharpshooter.

He’s a Reservist again in the Navy, but he’ll be back on the air at WTVQ news soon.

WTVQ anchor Doug High, 48, has been off the Lexington airwaves since March 3.

A commander in the Naval Reserve, High served active duty in the public affairs office for Operation Resolute Support, a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces and institutions. He led a team of more than 100 international officers and Afghan journalists to operate a 24/7 national radio station and oversaw production of weekly TV features than ran on Afghanistan’s national television networks. He also served as the strategic communications adviser to the Afghan government’s ministry of the interior and spent his first few months in the country as the press desk chief at Resolute Support Headquarters.

High is expected to return to WTVQ’s “Good Morning Kentucky” on Jan. 29, where he will discuss his recent military experience.

High was on the press desk on May 31, when a vehicle-born explosive device was detonated in Kabul’s diplomatic district, killing more than 150 people and wounding hundreds more. The blast occurred a half-mile from High’s compound, which was believed to be the intended target. On Sept. 27, insurgents shot nearly 50 rocket-propelled grenades at the visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense’s parked aircraft, missing it, and landing adjacent to High’s compound where they caused damage but no casualties.

High was decorated with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal as well as the NATO Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal for his service. While deployed, High also qualified as a sharpshooter on both the M-9 service pistol and M-4 carbine.

High’s journey back to Lexington began in Kabul, with stops in Germany and at the Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. He was met at the Blue Grass Airport on Sunday by his wife Lyssa and two sons.

High joined the Naval Reserve after 9/11.

High is also a history buff who produced and directed the documentary “Belle Brezing & the Gilded Age of the Bluegrass,” which premiered in February at the Kentucky Theatre. He moved to Lexington in 2000 from Toledo, Ohio, and has worked at WKYT and Post Time Productions.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 1:06 PM with the headline "This TV news anchor deployed to Afghanistan. He’s now a qualified sharpshooter.."