Virginia National Guard

Red Dragons recognized for federal duty, training excellence
May 21, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team received the Governor’s National Service Medal May 21, 2017, in Roanoke, Virginia, in recognition of their federal active duty service conducting security operations in Qatar from May 2016 to April 2017. The battalion and several companies also were recognized with national- and state-level training readiness awards... MORE

Va. Guard team among finishers at Best Sapper Competition
May 10, 2017 — Since January, two Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Sgt. Nicholas Shidlovsky and 2nd Lt. Gregory Gerlach, have worked together nearly every day to train for the Best Sapper Competition, held at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, April 23-28, 2017. Going in, the two were confident, ready and exceptionally motivated. At the competition, they survived the grueling match that pushed them through lakes, over mountains, out of helicopters and over countless obstacles to become one of just 20 teams to finish a competition that 48 teams started... MORE

Top Va. Guard units recognized at inaugural Virginia Military Ball
April 30, 2017 — Virginia Army and Air National Units were recognized for exceeding standards for readiness at the state and national level and for outstanding mission accomplishment at the inaugural Virginia Military Ball held April 29, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Roger Donlon, the first person to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, served as the guest speaker and shared his experiences and personal stories of Soldiers he served with in Vietnam... MORE

Cavalry Soldiers splash through water operations training
April 14, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted Army Combat Water Survival Training and combat rubber raiding craft familiarization April 8-9, 2017, at Virginia Beach, Virginia. The drill weekend focused on individual training tasks and small boat operations... MORE

Final groups from Lynchburg-based infantry battalion return to Va. after federal duty
April 2, 2017 — The final groups of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, also known as the Red Dragons, returned to Virginia April 1, 2017, after serving on federal active duty since May 2016 conducting security operations in Qatar. Approximately 450 Soldiers mobilized for the mission from the battalion headquarters in Lynchburg and units in Bedford, Lexington and Christiansburg. The first groups of Soldiers from the unit returned to Virginia March 25... MORE

Final groups of Red Dragons return from federal duty

Vietnam veterans recognized by Congressman Goodlatte in Staunton ceremony
March 30, 2017 — More than 100 Vietnam veterans filed onto the drill floor of the Thomas D. Howie Memorial Readiness Center March 30, 2017, for a Vietnam Veterans Commemoration Ceremony. The event, hosted by Congressman Bob Goodlatte in Staunton, Virginia, included several helping hands from the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Soldiers of the unit not only provided a color guard and other support to the ceremony, but several Soldiers were on hand to welcome and usher in the Vietnam veterans to their readiness center and to personally thank them for their service... MORE

Sec. Moran recognizes Va. Guard federal active duty service
March 29, 2017 — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 29th Infantry Division March 19, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The medals recognized the Soldiers who served in specialized teams on federal active duty overseas. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, was also on hand to recognize the Soldiers and present his challenge coin to Soldiers for outstanding duty performance. Both Moran and Williams also thanked family members for their outstanding support during the deployment... MORE

Red Dragons complete mission in Qatar
March 16, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a transfer of authority ceremony March 14, 2017, to officially end their security mission in Qatar. Soldiers from the Missouri Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment assumed responsibility for the mission... MORE

Va. Guard troops compete for title as Virginia’s top Soldier, NCO
March 8, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from around the state participated in the 2017 Virginia Army National Guard Soldier and NCO of the Year Competition Feb. 24-26, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The three-day competition included the Army Physical Fitness Test, marksmanship, land navigation, Army Warrior Tasks and an appearance board... MORE

Infantry Soldiers train for Expert Infantry Badge testing
March 6, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to multiple units in the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted training on weapons, medical and patrol tasks that are required to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge March 4, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The purpose of the EIB is to recognize Infantrymen who have demonstrated a mastery of critical tasks that build the core foundation of individual proficiency that allow them to locate, close with and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver and repel an enemy assault through fire and close combat... MORE

Engineers train on new route clearance vehicles
February 21, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Fredericksburg-based 229th Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team completed two weeks of training on route clearance operations in the Husky Mounted Detection System and the Buffalo Armored Vehicle Feb. 17, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The route clearance platoon has been immersed in assembly, maintenance and operation of the new vehicles since February 4, 2017... MORE

Red Dragons conduct combined live-fire exercise in Qatar
February 7, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving on federal active duty in Qatar spent a weekend in early January 2017 at Al Ghalail Range conducting a Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise. Soldiers conducted an area defense integrating indirect fires with mortars and forward observers, anti-tank capabilities with Javelin teams and direct fire capabilities with M240B machine guns, M249 squad automatic weapons and other small arms... MORE

Virginia Soldiers take part in Qatari Marksmanship Competition
February 7, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving on federal active duty in Qatar took top honors in several categories in the Qatari Marksmanship Competition at Al Udeid Air Base in early January 2017... MORE

Camp Pendleton simulator prepares Soldiers for live fire ranges
February 6, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted familiarization training on multiple weapons systems Feb. 4, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in preparation for gunnery tables scheduled for annual training later this... MORE

116th MET completes overseas mission
January 28, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard’s 116th Military Engagement Team marked the official completion of their overseas mission Jan. 9, 2017, during a Transfer of Authority ceremony held at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. During the ceremony, the 116th MET passed the mission to the Kentucky National Guard’s 149th Military Engagement Team... MORE

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