Virgin Islands National Guard

Last updated
Virgin Islands National Guard
Virgin Islands STARC DUI (from TIOH).jpg
Virgin Islands National Guard HQ DUI
Founded19 October 1973
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
AllegianceFlag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  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."
Size1,000
Garrison/HQ Saint Croix
Motto(s)The Guardians of the Eastern Front
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Donald Trump
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 JF Virgin Islands National Guard - Emblem.png

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]

Contents

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. Virgin Islands National Guard.jpg
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]

Virgin Islands Air National Guard [3]

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]

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.