The Virgin Islands National Guard’s 786th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 631st Engineer Company, has returned home after a 10-month deployment across Djibouti and other African nations, where they supported U.S. military operations and allied partnerships.
The 50-soldier unit, led by Capt. Wendy Aurelien, Warrant Officer 1 Rendell Thomas, and First Sgt. Kareem Henley, played a key role in strengthening infrastructure, security, and humanitarian efforts. The team was composed of personnel from multiple VING units, bringing together expertise to complete their mission successfully, according to the press release.
“The Virgin Islands National Guard continues to be a ready, relevant, responsive, and lethal force,” said Maj. Gen. Kodjo Knox-Limbacker, the adjutant general. “Our operational presence in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, along with our support for the Presidential Inauguration, demonstrates our global reach and unwavering commitment. Whether deploying abroad in support of U.S. national interest or responding to all hazards here at home, we are always ready and always there.”
As the Soldiers reunite with family and friends, their homecoming marks the successful completion of a critical mission, reinforcing the National Guard’s role in global operations and the Virgin Islands National Guard’s dedication to serving both at home and abroad, the press release stated.
