Final group of Va. Soldiers return from U.S. Virgin Islands

Senior leaders from state government and the Virginia National Guard welcome home the final group of Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returning from U.S. Virgin Islands hurricane recovery duty Oct. 17, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The Soldiers provided mission command for the joint task force that consisted of just over 1,300 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 25 states and Washington, D.C. supporting the U.S. Virgin Islands government and Virgin Islands National Guard.

The JTF had two core missions of suppling and managing points of distribution and providing assistance to law enforcement in traffic control, fixed site security and basic policing. From Sept. 27 to Oct. 15, points of distribution provided citizens with more than 19,700 cases of water, nearly 25,000 meals and more than 8,000 tarps. The Nebraska National Guard's 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade assumed the mission command role from the 116th.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran, Brig. Gen. Paul Griffin, Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, and Col. James W. Ring, Virginia Army National Guard Chief of Staff, greeted Soldiers at the airport and thanked them for their service.