Va. Guard Soldiers depart for U.S. Virgin Islands

The first group of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team depart for the U.S Virgin Islands Sept. 24, 2017, from Blackstone Army Airfield in Blackstone, Virginia, to join a multi-state, multi-agency response effort after recent hurricanes battered the region. The Soldiers will serve as a mission command headquarters and synchronize all National Guard operations assisting with recovery effort. Air National Guard crews from the New York and Kentucky National Guard flying C-130 airplanes transported the Soldiers and equipment to begin the mission.