DES MOINES, Iowa — A special "welcome home" ceremony was held at the Des Moines Airbase on Friday for a returning group of National Guard soldiers after a year-long deployment in the Middle East.
The 831st Engineer Vertical Construction Company (EVCC) was federally activated to support U.S. Central Command in a region that spanned 27 different countries. This included Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The last time the unit was activated was in 2005 during the War on Terrorism.
Throughout their time overseas, the 831st EVCC completed over 50 construction projects and contributed over 60,000 hours of labor across multiple bases. These projects "enhanced the protection and operational capabilities of U.S. Forces in CENTCOM," according to a release from the Iowa National Guard.
Because of their work, the unit received over 150 accolades.
The ceremony began shortly after the service members returned home, with leadership, family members and friends attending to honor those returning.