Some 1,200 U.S. military personnel are providing support to ensure that as many as 44,000 Scouts, staff members and volunteers from around the world can safely enjoy the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia.
This year's jamboree began July 22 and runs through Aug. 2. It is the first time in more than 50 years the event has been held in the United States; the jamboree is tri-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Active-duty service members from U.S. Northern Command, members of the Coast Guard, and National Guard troops from West Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Texas are providing logistics, security, aviation, air traffic control, weather detachment, transportation, medical, search and rescue, communications and public affairs support.
In addition to those support functions, Defense Department is providing a variety of entertainment at the Jamboree.
U.S. military bands "Unchartered Waters," part of the U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band out of Norfolk, Virginia; "Six-String Soldiers," part of the U.S. Army Field Band out of Fort Meade, Maryland; "Downrange," part of the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own," out of Joint Base Myer-Henderson, Virginia; "Sound Strike," out of U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; "Flight One," part of the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, out of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, all performed or are expected to perform for Scouts at the jamboree.
Additionally, Scouts were treated to a swimmer rescue demonstration provided by personnel from Coast Guard Air Station Detroit.
Overhead during the jamboree, Scouts from around the world saw U.S. military flyovers as well. Among those flyovers were a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft and MH65 Dolphin helicopter, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the West Virginia Army National Guard and a C-17 Globemaster III transport jet flyover from the West Virginia Air National Guard.
"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 Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Walker, commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard commands the task force supporting the jamboree.
"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," Walker said.
(Air Force Capt. Holli Nelson is with the West Virginia Air National Guard. C. Todd Lopez of DOD contributed to this article.)