Senior leaders welcome PRT Security Force Platoon back to USA after Afghan duty - March 24, 2012

Senior Virginia National Guard leaders welcome Soldiers from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force platoon back to the United States March 24 at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis A. Green, the Virginia Guard's senior enlisted leader, Col. Jeffrey N. Hice, deputy commander of the 116th Brigade Combat Team, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas H. Yancey, command sergeant major of the 116th Brigade Combat Team, visited with Soldiers during a break from demobilization activities. Approximately 40 Soldiers assigned the Security Force returned to the United States March 23 after serving on federal active duty since March 28, 2011. The Soldiers performed more than 640 security missions in support of PRT Uruzgan while the PRT was operating in potentially dangerous areas to rebuild infrastructure, assist with agriculture, build wells and provide healthcare to the people across the many provinces of Afghanistan. The Soldiers are assigned to the Hampton-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Brigade Combat Team, but are from all over the state including Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Staunton, Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area, as well as Southern Virginia.