Virginia Guard PRT Security Force returns to Virginia after federal duty in Afghanistan
Family, friends and senior leaders from the Virginia National Guard greet Soldiers from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force Platoon March 28 at Richmond International Airport. The Soldiers are among approximately 40 Virginia Guardsmen returning to airports across Virginia after the Soldiers served in federal active duty in Afghanistan since June 2011. The Soldiers returned to the United States March 23 and conducted demobilization activities at Camp Atterbury, Ind. to transition from active duty to National Guard status. They officially began federal active duty March 26, 2011, and trained at Camp Atterbury for about two months prior to deploying to Afghanistan. The members of the platoon performed more than 640 security missions in support of PRT Uruzgan while the PRT was operating in potentially dangerous areas to rebuild infrastructure, assist with agriculture, build wells and provide healthcare to the people across the many provinces of Afghanistan. The PRT is a joint mission, manned by Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen from the active duty and reserve components of the U.S. military. The Soldiers are assigned to the Hampton-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Brigade Combat Team, but are from all over the state including Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Staunton, Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area, as well as Southern Virginia. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia Department of Military Affairs)
Virginia Guard PRT Security Force returns to Virginia after federal duty in Afghanistan
Family, friends and senior leaders from the Virginia National Guard greet Soldiers from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force Platoon March 28 at Richmond International Airport. The Soldiers are among approximately 40 Virginia Guardsmen returning to airports across Virginia after the Soldiers served in federal active duty in Afghanistan since June 2011. The Soldiers returned to the United States March 23 and conducted demobilization activities at Camp Atterbury, Ind. to transition from active duty to National Guard status. They officially began federal active duty March 26, 2011, and trained at Camp Atterbury for about two months prior to deploying to Afghanistan. The members of the platoon performed more than 640 security missions in support of PRT Uruzgan while the PRT was operating in potentially dangerous areas to rebuild infrastructure, assist with agriculture, build wells and provide healthcare to the people across the many provinces of Afghanistan. The PRT is a joint mission, manned by Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen from the active duty and reserve components of the U.S. military. The Soldiers are assigned to the Hampton-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Brigade Combat Team, but are from all over the state including Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Staunton, Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area, as well as Southern Virginia. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia Department of Military Affairs)