(Des Moines, IA) -- One-hundred-fifty Iowa National Guard soldiers are back home after a year-long deployment to the Middle East. A welcome home ceremony was held (Friday afternoon) at the Des Moines Airbase for the 831st Engineer Company.
The National Guard says the soldiers were federally activated in September 2023 to support Operation Spartan Shield under U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), a region encompassing 27 countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The activation was the unit's first since 2005 when they were deployed in support to war on terrorism.
During their deployment, the 831st EVCC completed over 50 construction projects, contributing more than 60,000 hours of troop labor across seven U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, and Kuwait. These projects significantly enhanced the protection and operational capabilities of U.S. Forces in CENTCOM, particularly for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.
The unit received numerous awards during the deployment: 7 Meritorious Service Medals, 87 Army Commendation Medals, and 65 Army Achievement Medals, alongside many coins for excellence.