FORT PICKETT, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a Plus One Day with their loved ones July 18, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, during the unit’s annual training.
The event, held annually during the 276th’s annual training, gives family members, spouses and significant others a chance to experience their Soldiers’ training for a day. The event helps families understand what their Soldier does when away at drill, annual training or a deployment, and also serves as a morale booster during the long, hot summer days of annual training.
“We’ve done this for three years now, and the reason we do it is pretty simple: families are important,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Czaplicki, commander of the 276th, as he addressed the event’s attendees. “It’s important for us to have you understand the work that we do is hard but meaningful. Having family members come and experience this, to get the taste of an Army meal, to get a little exposure to what we do at the quarry, what we do at the maintenance bay, is going to expand your knowledge of what our Soldiers do.”
During this year’s Plus One Day, Soldiers and their loved ones observed quarry operations being conducted by the Fort Pickett-based 157th Engineer Platoon, taking a walking tour of the facility and watching quarried stone being worked into usable gravel.
Next, the group visited the Virginia Beach-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment as they continued a project refurbishing a building on Fort Pickett, getting hands-on experience with the tools the engineers use in their construction product, including miter saws and plumbing equipment.
The day’s last stop was with the Petersburg-based Forward Support Company, who showcased their recovery vehicles and maintenance shop for the group.
At each stop during the day, family members had the chance to learn about and experience what their Soldiers do when they are away. That bonding is vital for the Soldier and their family, but also for the Soldier and the unit, according to 1st Sgt. Gavin McClung, first sergeant for Headquarters Company.
“If we don’t get the family support, then we’re not going to be good at what we do,” said McClung, who brought his wife, Rebekah McClung. “To have the opportunity to bring our families and incorporate them - they get a chance to meet other family members, pursue those family readiness group ties. It’s about camaraderie.”
“It’s fun, having come multiple years, seeing the different tasks that can be expected of Gavin to oversee,” Rebekah said. “It’s really nice to be able to come spend the day with your spouse or plus one.”
With his wife witnessing what he does in his Guard role, McClung might get a little busier on the home front.
“It does set a little higher standard on what he should be able to do at home if he’s an engineer here,” joked Rebekah.
At the end of the day, the Plus One event brings a big morale boost to troops tired from a grueling annual training, something which will ultimately improve the unit’s productivity.
“Of course it’s been weeks since I’ve seen her,” said McClung. “So, I get a chance to see my wife, make sure she’s doing alright and everything is okay at home. It allays our fears so we can do our jobs better. It’s a win-win situation.”
Read more about the 276th at https://vngpao.info/3v3vjczc.