Tag: West Virginia National Guard

West Virginia National Guard, Others Prepared for Harvey Response

West Virginia officials say they are prepared to send resources, including the state’s National Guard assets and personnel, to areas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey. 

According to a news release from the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, The West Virginia National Guard has a broad array of disaster response and recovery resources that could be used to assist rescue and recovery efforts in Texas and other affected states.

 

Major General James Hoyer said the West Virginia National Guard has been in touch with officials from states affected by the storm and is prepared to mobilize in the event a request for help does come.

“A wide variety of requests are possible in the wake of an event of this magnitude,” Hoyer said.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is also coordinating possible resources, including swift-water rescue teams, according to Director Jimmy Gianato.

“There are no requests yet but we are prepared in the event requests do come,” said Gianato, who

The entire Texas National Guard was activated Monday for rescue and aid in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a flood punt team with 3 boats and 6 members from Huntington, West Virginia has been deployed to assist with the response.

 

National Guard, DoD Preparing for Boy Scout Jamboree

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.

West Virginia Ride For Fallen Service Heroes Set for July 8

The third annual Ride for Fallen Service Heroes has been set for next month to benefit the West Virginia National Guard Foundation, families of Fallen…

The third annual Ride for Fallen Service Heroes has been set for next month to benefit the West Virginia National Guard Foundation, families of Fallen West Virginia Service Members and establishment of a new Gold Star monument in West Virginia.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia issued a news release about the event and said he will serve as Special Guest Road Captain for the event July 8.

The round-trip ride will travel from South Charleston to Millwood, ending with a free picnic at National Guard Headquarters at Coonskin in Charleston.

Harley-Davidson of WV in South Charleston is a partner for the ride and can provide further information, or visit http://www.facebook.com/rideforfallenserviceheroes .

West Virginia Town's Flood-Control Channels Being Restored

Cleanup work has started on flood-control channels in the West Virginia community of Rainelle, which was ravaged by flooding last June.

The West Virginia Conservation Agency says in a news release that the agency and its contractors are removing sediment from channel beds and clearing brush from the channel banks. The West Virginia National Guard will take the debris to another site for incineration.

The channels were built between 1959 and 1961 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and have had little maintenance since.

Once restored, the channels will be better suited to handle floodwaters and divert them from homes and businesses

The work is expected to be completed by mid-June.

Defense Policy Cited in Axing Bernie Sanders' Armory Event in McDowell

The West Virginia National Guard says a scheduled appearance by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a southern West Virginia armory was canceled due to U.S.…

The West Virginia National Guard says a scheduled appearance by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a southern West Virginia armory was canceled due to U.S. Defense Department policy.

The Guard says in a news release that Defense Department policy prohibits the use of military facilities for political and election events, including town hall meetings. The West Virginia State Armory Board has a similar policy.

The statement says Monday’s event at the Welch armory was pulled after details were shared with the state adjutant general’s office on Friday. MSNBC planned to host the event.

Sanders, who lost to Hillary Clinton in last year’s Democratic presidential primary, was scheduled to be in Charleston on Sunday as part of a book tour.

Wheeling-Based Union Local Settles Laborer Job Complaint

A Wheeling-based union local has settled claims that it failed to reinstate a National Guard member as an apprentice laborer following his return from basic training.

The U.S. Justice Department announced the settlement Wednesday with the Laborers Local No. 1149.

Federal law protects the civilian job rights of military service members.

According to a complaint, Elliot Ferrell notified the union of his impending military duty and was told his dues obligation would be suspended for the length of his service. While Ferrell was at basic training, the union notified a relative it terminated Ferrell’s apprenticeship because of a late dues payment. The action disqualified Ferrell from further union-backed job referrals.

A consent decree that is subject to federal court approval requires the union to compensate Ferrell for lost income.

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