GLEN JEAN, W.Va. – At the request of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, more than 1,200 military members from all branches of service, as authorized by Congress, are providing critical support for the lead up to and duration of the 24th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia.
This year's WSJ, scheduled to take place July 22-Aug. 2, marks the first time in more than 50 years the event has been held in the United States and is tri-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Active-duty military members provided by U.S. Northern Command, as well as members of U.S. Coast Guard, and more than 700 National Guard troops from West Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Texas, will support the event under the Joint Task Force (JTF) dual-status command of Brig. Gen. Christopher “Mookie” Walker, West Virginia Air National Guard. This task force will work under the direction of the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) led by West Virginia Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Russell Crane and West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mike Todorovich, as directed by an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Justice.
The combined efforts of these agencies and the task force members are to provide logistics, security, aviation, air traffic control, weather detachment, transportation, limited medical, search and rescue, communications, and public affairs support to more than 44,000 Scouts, staff members and volunteers from all over the world.
“The kickoff for the 24th World Scout Jamboree marks an exciting time for all the people who have been working for more than two years to bring this event to life,” said Walker. “Not only are we excited about the opportunity to provide critical Department of Defense support for the World Scout Jamboree’s operations, it’s also an opportunity to showcase West Virginia and the West Virginia National Guard to a contingent of national and international scouts, leaders and visitors.”
Polish and Latvian military representatives will also embed with the JTF for the duration of the event.
This year’s WSJ is also a unique opportunity to merge training and operations, with more than 40 federal, state, and local agencies working closely to increase the synchronization of forces during this Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions.
In conjunction with the support to the Jamboree, the WVNG is running a large-scale exercise in southern West Virginia - Sentry Storm 19.
The 130th Airlift Wing hosts Sentry Story out of Charleston, West Virginia during the same time as the WSJ. For this exercise, military assets from around the country will train in West Virginia in joint aircrew and mobility operations, aeromedical evacuation, personnel recovery, and support services readiness training for domestic operations.
By conducting training that overlaps the time frame of the Jamboree, Sentry Storm service members will be able to operate on standby for airlift and medical support, should a real-world domestic emergency occur.
The Department of Defense has provided support to the Boy Scouts of America since 1931 and the West Virginia National Guard has served as the lead military planners for the National Scout Jamboree, held every two years, since 2013.