Commander of Finnish Air Force meets with VNG leaders
229th BEB Soldier earns Expert Soldier Badge
VNG’s 192nd Wing to receive 2022 Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
34th CST, Virginia State Police team up for training exercise
VNG Soldiers conduct communications exchange with Tajik partners
116th IBCT’s Cooper, 329th’s Bradner are VaARNG best warriors​
Women veterans honored at War Memorial ceremony
Fort Barfoot celebrates one year since redesignation

FEATURED STORIES

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Squadron, Virginia Air National Guard, prepares for take off in an F-22 Raptor during exercise Sentry Savannah 22-1 at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia, May 11, 2022. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s premier counter air exercise, encompassing 10 units of fourth- and fifth- generation fighter aircraft, which tests the capabilities of warfighters in a simulated near-peer environment and trains the next generation of fighter pilots for tomorrow’s fight.
VNG’s 192nd Wing to receive 2022 Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
April 5, 2024
The Virginia National Guard’s 192nd Wing is one of 14 Air National Guard units to receive the 2022 Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, according to an announcement made April 4, 2024, by Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, Director of the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau.
Fifty-seven Soldiers and Airmen assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa earned the GAFPB July 4-5, 2022, at Camp Simba, Kenya. The badge is a test of physical fitness and shooting proficiency with three levels of the award that can be earned: gold, silver, and bronze. It is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
VNG Soldiers eligible for promotion, recruiting ribbon, $1K bonus for referrals
March 3, 2023
Helping grow the Virginia Army National Guard recently became an even more lucrative endeavor with the expansion of the ARNG’s Stripes for Buddies program and the announcement of a new Army Recruiting Ribbon. When paired with the VNG’s Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, getting a buddy to enlist could equate to a $1,000 bonus, a promotion up to the rank of specialist or promotion points for sergeants and staff sergeants, and the award of the Army Recruiting Ribbon.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora celebrates more than 36 years of military service with family, friends and fellow service members at a retirement ceremony April 12, 2024, at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony. He presented Flora with a Certificate of Appreciation from the President of the United States, a Certificate of Retirement signed by the Chief of Staff of the Army, a Certificate of Service signed by the Chief of National Guard Bureau and the Virginia Distinguished Service Medal. Ring also presented a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the Chief of Staff of the Army to Thuy Flora. Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich, the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader, assisted the Flora family and Ring with furling Flora’s general officer flag symbolizing his retirement. Read more about Flora’s personal story at https://ngpa.us/29243 and his leadership philosophy at https://ngpa.us/29244. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)
Flora retires after more than 36 years of service
April 17, 2024
Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora celebrated more than 36 years of military service with family, friends and fellow service members at a retirement ceremony April 12, 2024, at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct maintenance on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter April 2, 2024, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. The Soldiers are part of the AASF’s avionics shop, which troubleshoots, diagnoses and repairs avionic components and wiring on the VNG’s Black Hawk fleet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
VNG full-time avionics team tackles high-flying challenges
April 15, 2024
Tucked behind a blue door at the Virginia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility is the organization’s avionics section. There, a small group of full-time Soldiers work to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair avionic components and wiring on a fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Sgt. Stella Escano takes a written exam alongside her fellow competitors at the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Best Warrior Competition held Jan. 5-7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. (Courtesy photo)
From ambulances to artillery: one NCO’s pursuit of military & medical dreams
April 15, 2024
As a young adult, Sgt. Stella Escano knew she wanted to attend medical school. She also knew she wanted to eventually serve in the military, but wanted to get her education locked in first. Growing up in and around Norfolk, Virginia, an area with a dense military presence, Escano was quite familiar with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, but neither of those options felt like the right choice for her. So, she went online and did some research.
More than 40 chaplains and religious affairs specialists from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force came together for a two-day Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training event April 13-14, 2024 at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The theme for this year’s training was “Spiritually Ready and Professionally Equipped”, with the goal being to give chaplains ways to bolster their own spirituality and inner fire for the important work they do, while also embracing new and changing approaches to that work. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, opened the event with remarks to those assembled. Ring stressed the critical role fulfilled by the religious support teams throughout the VNG and VDF. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton)
VNG Chaplains gather for joint sustainment training
April 15, 2024
More than 40 chaplains and religious affairs specialists personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and the Virginia Defense Force came together for a two-day Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training event April 13-14, 2024, at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
Maj. Gen. Bryan E. Salmon has been selected to serve as the United States Air Force Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, according to an announcement made April 9, 2024, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.
Salmon, Batterton selected for new positions, promotions
April 15, 2024
Maj. Gen. Bryan E. Salmon has been selected to serve as the United States Air Force Special Assistant to the Director of the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, according to an announcement made April 9, 2024, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Brig. Gen. Christopher Batterton has been selected to succeed Salmon as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air National Guard Strategic Initiatives.
Finnish Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, meets with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8, 2024, during a visit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Catherine M. Jumper, commander of the Virginia Air National Guard, and other senior VaANG leaders hosted the visit and provided an overview of the 192nd Wing’s operations and capabilities, including flight operations as well as cyber and intelligence capabilities. The VNG enjoys an enduring relationship with Finland that includes military training exchanges between Finnish Defence Forces and VNG Soldiers and Airmen. Read more about the VNG’s partnership with Finland at https://ngpa.us/27894.
Commander of Finnish Air Force meets with VNG leaders
April 10, 2024
Finnish Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, met with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8, 2024, during a visit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.
Maj. Josh Favaro, executive officer of the Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineering Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team receives the Expert Soldier Badge from Sgt. Maj. Justin Walkup, the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team operations sergeant major, March 15, 2024 at Fort Walker, Virginia. The Expert Soldier Badge is a special skills badge awarded to Soldiers who have completed testing and do not serve in the Infantry, Special Forces or Medical Branches. Testing for the ESB consists of 30 tasks- Weapon Lane Tasks, Medical Lane Tasks, Patrol Lane Tasks, and five unit-level missions essential tasks chosen by the commander, as well as a 12-mile road march, a land navigation test and the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment.
229th BEB Soldier earns Expert Soldier Badge
April 9, 2024
Maj. Josh Favaro, executive officer of the Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineering Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team earned the Expert Soldier Badge March 15, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. In doing so, Favaro became the first Soldier to earn the ESB while assigned to the Virginia National Guard.
A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Squadron, Virginia Air National Guard, prepares for take off in an F-22 Raptor during exercise Sentry Savannah 22-1 at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia, May 11, 2022. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s premier counter air exercise, encompassing 10 units of fourth- and fifth- generation fighter aircraft, which tests the capabilities of warfighters in a simulated near-peer environment and trains the next generation of fighter pilots for tomorrow’s fight.
VNG’s 192nd Wing to receive 2022 Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
April 5, 2024
The Virginia National Guard’s 192nd Wing is one of 14 Air National Guard units to receive the 2022 Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, according to an announcement made April 4, 2024, by Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, Director of the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team, along with Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians, conduct a training exercise March 19, 2024, at the Blackstone Readiness Center in Blackstone, Virginia. During the joint exercise, CST and VSP elements worked to identify possible explosives hazards while maintaining crime scene integrity. The group also conducted a simulated “man down” situation. The 34th CST supports first responders during potential hazardous materials incidents involving possible chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats and can identify unknown substances, assess current and projected consequences, advise an incident commander on response measures and assist with requests for additional state support. Read more about the CST at https://ngpa.us/23991.
34th CST, Virginia State Police team up for training exercise
April 2, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team, along with Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians, conducted a training exercise March 19-21, 2024, in Blackstone, Virginia. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the Virginia Army National Guard’s G6 section conduct a communications exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 25 – 29, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense‘s State Partnership program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG Soldiers conduct communications exchange with Tajik partners
April 1, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the Virginia Army National Guard’s G6 section conducted a communications exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 25 – 29, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 

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ABOUT THE VA NATIONAL GUARD

The Virginia National Guard is a unique dual-status force with a federal mission to provide a combat reserve for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to fight our nation’s wars and a state mission to provide a response force that answers the call of the Governor to defend the commonwealth. The VNG traces the history and tradition of Citizen-Soldier service to the founding of Jamestown in 1607, and there has been a military presence defending Virginia ever since. For more information on the Virginia National Guard click HERE.

READY AND RESILIENT RESOURCES

Readiness and Resiliency Information Resource Page provides resources and education to all Soldiers, Airmen, Virginia Defense Force personnel, family members and civilian employees to promote readiness, well-being, resilience and suicide prevention. The end state is a healthy organization that is resilient, knowledgeable regarding high risk behaviors, educated on stress reduction measures and aware of available service member, family and employee support network resources.

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