Members of the West Virginia National Guard as well as guardsmen and women from other states are preparing for thousands of Boy Scouts to descend on southern West Virginia.
The National Guard is working with both military and civilian members of the federal Department of Defense to prepare for the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree that begins next week.
Scouts from across the country will begin arriving at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County Wednesday. The jamboree itself is a week and a half long event that will have Scouts participating in a number of outdoor and adventure activities on the site as well as community service activities in several West Virginia counties.
More than 1,400 military members from all branches of the armed services are preparing to serve as support staff for the event. Members of the West Virginia National Guard will be on standby for airlift and medical support in case of an emergency.
This year’s jamboree is the second to take place at the Bechtel Reserve since its grand opening in 2014.