On Friday, the Des Moines Airbase hosted a special “welcome home” ceremony for a group of National Guard soldiers returning from a year-long deployment in the Middle East.
The federal government activated the 831st Engineer Vertical Construction Company (EVCC) to support U.S. Central Command in a territory encompassing 27 countries. This encompassed Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The unit was last active in 2005, during the War on Terror.
During their time overseas, the 831st EVCC accomplished over 50 construction projects and worked over 60,000 hours across numerous facilities. According to an Iowa National Guard press release, these projects “enhanced the protection and operational capabilities of US forces in CENTCOM.”.
The unit received over 150 awards in recognition of their efforts.
The event began immediately after the service members returned home, with leadership, family members, and friends present to recognize those who had returned.
