Departure ceremony held for Sandston-based Virginia Guard aviation battalion headed to Iraq - Feb. 25, 2011

Family, friends and fellow Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment gathered for a departure ceremony Feb. 25, 2011 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston to mark the official start of the unit’s federal active duty service in Iraq.

After the departure ceremony, approximately 400 Soldiers are scheduled to report to Fort Hood, Texas to conduct mobilization training for approximately one to two months before deploying overseas. Once they arrive in Iraq, they will conduct their normal missions which include troop air assault and air movement, casualty evacuation, aerial re-supply and any other requested aviation missions.

The battalion, also known as “The Punishers,” is organized into three flight companies with a total of 30 Black Hawk helicopters along with a maintenance company, headquarters company and forward support company. Of the 400 Soldiers mobilizing, approximately 75 are from the Maryland National Guard’s Company C, and small detachments from Companies D and E, as well as the headquarters company of 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment.

The battalion last mobilized for federal active duty in Iraq from January 2006 to February 2007.

While headquartered in Sandston, the battalion is made up of Soldiers from all over the state. Approximately 110 Soldiers are from the Richmond and Petersburg area, about 50 are from the Hampton Roads area, approximately 15 are from the Charlottesville and Central Virginia area, about 25 are from the Northern Virginia area, approximately 15 are from the Fredericksburg and Stafford County area and the other Soldiers are from various locations across the state.

The mobilization orders call for an active duty period not to exceed 400 days, but the Secretary of Defense can extend tours for operational needs not to exceed 24 months or 730 days.