Virginia Guard Soldiers prepare for duty in Vermont - Sept. 5, 2011

The Virginia National Guard Soldiers complete administrative paperwork and conduct maintenance checks on 20-ton dump trucks Sept. 5 at Fort Pickett in preparation for moving the vehicles to Vermont. The Virginia Guard is preparing to send approximately 25 Soldiers and six 20-ton dump trucks to Vermont to assist with clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene. The Fort Pickett-based 157th Engineer Platoon is providing the personnel and dump trucks, and the Blackstone-based 3647th Maintenance Company will also provide a maintenance team and support vehicle. The Soldiers arrived at Fort Pickett Sept. 5 to prepare for the mission and are scheduled to depart Sept. 6. The mission could last up to 30 days. Vermont made the request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, approved the request to provide the personnel and equipment.