Departure ceremony sends off Sandston-based aviation units
Senior leaders from state government and the Virginia National Guard join family members, friends and fellow Soldiers in bidding farewell to the members of two Sandston-based aviation units May 27, 2016, in Sandston, Virginia, at a ceremony to mark the upcoming start of federal active duty. Approximately 40 Soldiers each assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, and Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion, are scheduled to begin serving on federal active duty in early June 2016. The units will be based in Kuwait and provide rotary wing aviation and aviation maintenance support to the U. S. Central Command area of operations.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Curtis Brown, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Col. William Zana, commander of the 91st Troop Command, were on hand to bid farewell to the Soldiers and thank them and their families for the service and sacrifice.
Soldiers assigned to Company A are expected to conduct their normal missions while deployed including troop air assault and air movement, casualty evacuation, aerial re-supply and supporting other requested aviation missions. The Soldiers of Company A last served on federal active duty in Iraq from April to December 2011 with the rest of 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment. The battalion was one of the last three U.S. military aviation assets to depart Iraq.
Soldiers assigned to Detachment 2 are expected to provide aviation maintenance support to units in the area of operations. The detachment last mobilized for federal active duty in Kosovo as part of the NATO Kosovo Force 12 from August 2009 to August 2010.
After the departure ceremony, the two units will report to Texas for approximately 30 to 45 days of additional mobilization training before heading to Kuwait.
The Clifton Forge-based 29th Division Band provided ceremonial music for the event.
