Virgin Islands National Guard

Virgin Islands National Guard
Virgin Islands National Guard HQ DUI
Founded	19 October 1973
Country	United States
Allegiance	U.S. Virgin Islands
Branch	National Guard
Role	"When directed by the Governor, service members will serve and protect the interests of the Territory and its citizens."
Size	1,000
Garrison/HQ	Saint Croix
Motto(s)	The Guardians of the Eastern Front
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Joe Biden
Governor of the United States Virgin Islands	Albert Bryan Jr.
Adjutant General	Major-General Kodjo S. Knox-Limbacker
Director of Joint Staff	Colonel Glenda M. Mathurine-Lee
Insignia
Emblem of the Joint Forces Virgin Islands National Guard

The Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) is a component of the United States Armed Forces' National Guard based in the United States Virgin Islands. It was established on October 19, 1973 in a ceremony officiated by Major-General La Vern E. Weber, then serving as the director of the Army National Guard. Major Leayle Galiber was concurrently appointed as acting Adjutant-General and took command of the first two VING units to be activated, a headquarters detachment and the 661st Military Police Company, both of which were stationed on the island of Saint Croix.^[1]

An MPDC officer deputizing members of the Virgin Islands National Guard who have just landed at Andrews Air Force Base for the second inauguration of Barack Obama.

The VING consists of the following units:

Virgin Islands Army National Guard^[2]

• Joint Force Headquarters
  • Medical Detachment
  • Recruiting and Retention Battalion
• 104th Troop Command
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
  • 661st Military Police Detachment
  • 662nd Engineer Company
  • 630th Quartermaster Detachment
  • 51st Public Affairs Detachment
• 786th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • 631st Engineer Detachment
  • 610th Quartermaster Water Supply Company
  • 73rd Army Band
• 210th Regiment (Regional Training Institute)
• 23rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team
• Detachment 1, Company D, 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment
• 1947th Acquisition Contingency Contracting Team

Virgin Islands Air National Guard^[3]

• Joint Force Headquarters
• 285th Civil Engineering Squadron

History

The Virgin Islands National Guard was federally recognized on October 19, 1973 and has largely engaged in disaster response and relief. Its first foreign deployment was when it was deployed for Operation Joint Endeavor in 1995 and has since been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kosovo, Haiti, and Cuba.^[4]

Decorations

The Virgin Islands National Guard has authorized several state decorations for wear by its personnel, including:^[5]

• Virgin Islands Distinguished Service Medal (VIDSM)
• Virgin Islands Meritorious Service Medal (VIMSM)
• Virgin Islands Commendation Medal (VICOM)
• Virgin Islands Long and Faithful Service Medal (VILFSM)
• Virgin Islands Emergency Service Ribbon (VIESR)

References

1. "History". Virgin Islands National Guard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
2. "Virgin Islands National Guard Units". Virgin Islands National Guard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
3. "Virgin Islands National Guard Units". Virgin Islands National Guard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
4. "History". Virgin Islands National Guard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
5. "Virgin Islands National Guard Military Ribbons". OfficialMilitaryRibbons. Retrieved July 5, 2023.