Virginia National Guard

SMP cadets hone leadership, Soldier skills with help from 183rd RTI
February 20, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program allows ROTC cadets participating in their university’s ROTC program to also serve in the Virginia National Guard. During the past several months, those cadets enrolled in the SMP have been training with cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The training is part of a pilot program designed to increase their leadership skills and prepare them for significant training events later this year... MORE

Saber Soldiers provide crew evaluations for active-duty cavalry squadron
January 29, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard cavalry Soldiers provided vehicle crew evaluators for their active-duty counterparts from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during gunnery training Jan. 15 – 26, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Soldiers assigned to the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided the evaluation support for the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division as they conducted crew-served gunnery ranges with multiple vehicles and weapons systems... MORE

529th CSSB welcomes new noncommissioned officers
November 18, 2018 — Eight Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group joined the ranks of the noncommissioned officer corps during an induction ceremony Nov. 10, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. As part of the ceremony, four Soldiers presented “A Soldier’s Request,” and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Coleman, the 529th CSSB command sergeant major, led them in the affirming the NCO Creed. The 529th is preparing for an upcoming federal mobilization to the Middle East... MORE

DMA hosts inaugural Trades Technician Training Course
November 14, 2018 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs Safety and Occupational Health Office conducted its inaugural Trades Technician Training Course Nov. 8, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The day-long course, which was hosted in coordination with the DMA facilities, operations, maintenance and environmental sections, focused on hot topics in the safety and environmental arenas... MORE

Fort Pickett Fire & Rescue hosts incident command course
October 17, 2018 — Fort Pickett Fire & Rescue hosted instruction on the National Incident Management System Training Program Incident Command System Level 300 Course Oct. 3, 10 and 11, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. In addition to training their own personnel, first responders from nearby organizations also took part... MORE

Virginia OCS dedicates building to Capt. Harry Q. Rose
October 3, 2018 — An intimate gathering of Soldiers and family members marked the dedication of the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School building in honor of Capt. Harry Q. Rose Sept. 22, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Rose graduated from OCS Class VI in 1966 and earned the honor graduate distinction after completing the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he first branched as an artillery officer... MORE

Air Assault & Pathfinder Schools held at Fort Pickett
September 5, 2018 — It was “Zero Day” of Air Assault School, Aug. 7, 2018, and for most of the 270 Soldiers gathered at Fort Pickett, their reason for being there was simple: They wanted to prove something... MORE

Army Reserve engineers improve Fort Pickett infrastructure
August 10, 2018 — Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the Marion, Virginia-based 760th Engineer Company, 363rd Engineer Battalion worked to improve sidewalks at the Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett during their extended combat training July 14-27, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The Soldiers conducted the training as part of several troop projects across the post in coordination with the Fort Pickett Department of Public Works during the battalion’s annual two-week training... MORE

Virginia Soldiers, Airmen awarded for marksmanship excellence
June 27, 2018 — Sixty-four Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in this year’s Adjutant General’s State Pistol Match, held June 22-24, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The event, hosted by the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, had shooters split into 16 teams of four to test their marksmanship skills against some of the best shooters in the state and the nation. On Sunday, the top shooters gathered at the RTI for an awards ceremony that recognized the year’s top team and individual competitors... MORE

DMA conducts its first-ever Supervisor Course
June 18, 2018 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs conducted its first-ever Supervisor Course June 4-7, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The class was held at Fort Pickett, but may be conducted at other locations in the future... MORE

DiNonno takes command of 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
June 10, 2018 — Lt. Col. Joseph DiNonno took command of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Scott Smith, in a traditional change of command ceremony June 10, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. John Epperly, commander of the 29th Infantry Division, presided over the exchange of unit colors that symbolized the transfer of command from Smith to DiNonno... MORE

Training. Weight lifting. Ruck marching. How one Virginia National Guard soldier overcomes challenges, becomes runner-up in Best Warrior Competition
June 5, 2018 — Spc. Johnathan T. Koke used the experience he gained during the 2016 Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition to better prepare for the 2018 event. Koke is a member of the Gate City-based 1032nd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group and finished as the runner-up for this year’s Best Warrior Competition, a three-day event held in late February... MORE

How one Virginia National Guard soldier overcomes challenges, becomes runner-up in Best Warrior Competition

Virginia Soldiers & Airmen compete in state rifle match
May 31, 2018 — cattered storms and heavy rain made way for a wet and muddy two-day marksmanship competition. Fifty-seven Soldiers and Airmen from the Virginia National Guard participated in the Adjutant General’s 2018 Rifle Match May 18-19, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.The annual event is open to all Army and Air National Guard members across the state of... MORE

Virginia NCO & Maryland Soldier named best warriors in the region
May 22, 2018 — The 2018 Region II Best Warrior Competition brought Soldiers and NCOs from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. to Fort Pickett May 17-20, 2018. After days of physical and mental challenges that had the region’s best Soldiers leaping over obstacles, knocking down targets and testing their military knowledge, Virginia National Guardsman Sgt. Jake Moyer was named the region’s top noncommissioned officer, while Maryland’s Spc. Gerald Villamar was named the top Soldier. The winners from the regional competition will go on to compete at the national level this summer... MORE

116th IBCT staff conducts command post exercise to prepare for Warfighter
April 24, 2018 — More than 350 members of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in a command post exercise April 12-15, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

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