Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Virginia National Guardsmen Return From Overseas Duty By A.J. Coyne,
                Virginia National Guard Public Affairs
 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, returned to Virginia Feb. 10 after serving on federal active duty in Southwest Asia since May. After conducting demobilization activities at Fort Bliss, Texas, the Soldiers flew into Norfolk and reunited with loved ones at the VNG’s State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach.
 
“The Soldiers of the 576th EUD proved during this deployment that they were truly masters of their craft,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shaun Howard, the 576th detachment sergeant. “Our Soldiers were able to operate in multiple countries in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. They showed that they were able to adapt to austere environments, with limited equipment and material, to accomplish the mission.”
 
During the deployment, about 55 Soldiers assigned to the 576th supported U.S. Central Command’s Operation Spartan Shield, completing vital infrastructure projects and improving U.S. and partner nations’ physical security by creating traffic control points, gates, bunkers, guard towers and battle positions in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The unit operated in decentralized squads and teams, influencing multiple top-10 priority engineering projects for U.S. Army Central.
 
“The massive success of these engineers proves the theory about squad-level proficiency,” said Capt. Shane McNamara, commander of the 576th. “Decentralized squads operating autonomously across the Middle East under outstanding NCO leadership with such professionalism they improved the reputation of the Corps of Engineers.”
 
“The 576th Engineer Utility Detachment enabled the Theater Engineer Battalion and Brigade to revolutionize the employment of engineer assets and resources in theater,” said Lt. Col. James Hill, 363rd Engineer Battalion commander. “The 576th EUD’s brilliant display of technical and tactical competence, while executing protection construction missions in the Eastern Syrian Security Area, created an inviting environment for subsequent engineer forces employed across seven countries in support of operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.”
 
Soldiers of the 576th established relationships with multiple base and maneuver commanders in the region, allowing the engineer battalion commander to position engineer forces across the Middle East.
 
“The 576th Engineer Utility Detachment truly embodied the definition of ‘tip of the spear,’” Hill said. “It has been an honor to command a unit that believes ‘greatness is their endgame.’”
 
They completed 113 named projects and hundreds of work orders over 24,000 hours of labor, including more than 3,000 hours of vehicle operations without a reportable accident. The detachment fostered relationships with partner nations; revamped movement with roads, helipads, and runways; enhanced protection with guard towers and barriers; bolstered sustainment with sanitary and water system projects; synergized intelligence by erecting surveillance assets and fabricating operations centers; enabled strategic fires assets with electrical and security repairs; and empowered mission command at the engineer company commander level.
 
“Our Soldiers maintained a high level of discipline and operability to change the ways engineer forces were used throughout ARCENT,” Howard said. 
 
This was the first overseas mobilization for the 576th, which was stood up in 2017. The unit moved from Onancock to Virginia Beach in 2019.
 
It provides facilities engineering support in carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing and road maintenance and repair. The detachment includes a headquarters section, an operations section, three identical utility sections and an engineer equipment section. An E-6 leads each utility section, which contains all the vertical MOSs.
 
While the Soldiers of the 576th are happy to be home, they viewed the deployment as a valuable experience.
 
“Through this deployment, I have gotten the chance to expand my carpentry knowledge, work on my mental strengths and weaknesses, and have been given chances for leadership experience,” said Spc. Gabriel Kauffman.
 
“This deployment has been a learning experience for me,” said Sgt. Bobby Mullen. “I learned so much about operations and construction management that will help me in both my civilian and military career.”
 
“I’ve saved a good amount of money, gained more confidence in myself, and have set myself up for success,” said Spc. Maverick Beard. “I am grateful for my fellow Soldiers and am so ready to return to my civilian life.”
 
“This deployment has given me the opportunity and experience to mold young Soldiers and NCOs into leaders,” Howard said. “The lessons that our troops and myself have learned over the last year will help us succeed in our military and professional lives.” Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 18,500 VNG Soldiers and Airmen have mobilized overseas and in the United States for homeland security missions.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Virginia National Guard
 Spartan Shield
 Inherent Resolve
 
 Virginia National Guard Formalizes Partnership with Finland
 By Cotton Puryear,
  Virginia National Guard Soldiers Conduct Air Assault Drill
 By Spc. Rhita Daniel,
  New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa
 By Eric Durr,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil