UAS detachment recognized for Southwest Border service

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based Detachment 1, Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal Jan. 21, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger was on hand to congratulate the Soldiers, thank them for their service and welcome them home alongside Lt. Col. Robert P. “Beau” Mason, commander of the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion.

“It’s my honor to be here today as you all are honored for the work you have done, this service you continue to deliver,” Spanberger said to the 20 Soldiers in attendance. “I just couldn’t be prouder and more appreciative of all that you do, the commitment you have both to our commonwealth and our country.”

The Soldiers were mobilized in 2022 in support of the Department of Defense-approved mission assisting Customs and Border Protection on the Southwest Border. They operated the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aircraft system, or UAS. The Shadow can provide commanders with tactical level reconnaissance, surveillance and communication relay capabilities.

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Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based Detachment, Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion receive the Governor’s National Service Medal Jan. 21, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.