Virginia National Guard

R&R offering up pizza party for top lead-producing unit
July 6, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion is offering up a pizza party for the top lead-producing unit in the state as part of their Summer Slam Challenge. The contest, open to all Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers now through July 31, 2022, challenges units to see which can gather the most qualified leads over the contest period. ... MORE

VNG RRB officially welcomes Johnson to top NCO spot
June 21, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion welcomed Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Johnson as the battalion’s senior enlisted leader in a Change of Responsibility ceremony held June 8, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Johnson was promoted to the rank of sergeant major just before the ceremony and has served in the RRB since 2008, when he came on as a recruiter. ... MORE

The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion officially welcomes Sgt. Maj. Paul Johnson as the battalion’s top noncommissioned in a change of responsibility ceremony held June 8, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Johnson was promoted just before taking responsibility of the formation and has performed the duties of the senior enlisted leader for the battalion for several months. Following the change of responsibility, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Compton was promoted to master sergeant, and newly-promoted Master Sgt. Thomas Clarke was recognized for his recent promotion as well. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers represent VNG at Region II Best Warrior
June 1, 2022 — Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers competed for the titles of Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during the Region II Best Warrior Competition May 17 - 20, 2022, at Camp Dawson, West Virginia. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers compete for Regional Best Warrior title

SMP cadets hone skills while maximizing benefit usage
May 4, 2022 — Approximately 70 cadets, all enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program, came together to hone their military skills during a multi-day field training exercise held April 22-24, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Cadets enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program conduct training during a three-day field training exercise held April 22-24, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Over the course of the weekend, the cadets zeroed on the M4 carbine, and focused on basic warrior tasks and battle drills. Approximately 70 cadets from universities across the state participated in the event, which was supported by around 15 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

RSP NCO paves pathway for success for Leesburg area recruits
May 2, 2022 — Ever since he was a kid, Staff Sgt. Shane Williams knew he’d join the military. On his dad’s side, military service dates back all the way to the American Civil War. Since then, his family has served through every major U.S. conflict, excluding the Korean War, and almost everyone served in the U.S. Army. His grandfather was the only exception... MORE

VNG offering professional development experience in Normandy for D-Day
April 26, 2022 — Now through May 8, 2022, the Virginia Army National Guard is inviting up to five Soldiers to join senior leaders for a professional development experience honoring the 78th anniversary of D-Day June 2-10, 2022, in Normandy, France... MORE

Va. Army National Guard expands $20k sign-on bonus
April 12, 2022 — Virginia Army National Guard is now offering $20,000 sign-on bonuses for those who enlist into an expanded number of military occupational specialties. Previously, just one MOS qualified for the top-tier $20,000 bonus, while two additional jobs offered smaller bonus amounts. Now, Soldiers who enlist into one of seven career fields may be eligible for the $20,000 bonus. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team fire a ceremonial 19-gun salute with M119A3 105mm howitzers at the inauguration of Dr. Ralph Northam as the 73rd Governor of Virginia Jan. 13, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Bryan Myhr)

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers capture 2022 VNG Best Warrior titles
April 6, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion claimed top honors at the 2022 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition April 3, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Va. Beach native first female cav scout in VNG
April 4, 2022 — After 22 weeks of intense training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Pfc. Noor Habr became the first woman in the Virginia Army National Guard to earn the 19D Cavalry Scout military occupational specialty, or MOS. Habr, an Arab American and native of Virginia Beach, decided to join the National Guard after a recruiter visited her school in 2021. As a senior at Bayside High School, she was trying to figure out what her next step would be after graduation... MORE

VNG NCO recounts career moves from band geek to section chief
March 18, 2022 — Master Sgt. Jessica Dickenson started her first job when she was 11. Her parents were lucky to finish high school, she said, and money was tight. Everyone worked. She didn’t know much about the military, didn’t have any sort of family connection to it, but she was still fascinated with the idea of military service. A friend from high school had recently joined the Connecticut National Guard as a musician in the 102nd Army Band. ... MORE

Master Sgt. Jessica Dickenson, center, poses with her team during an awards ceremony with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion June 11, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

R&R names battalion NCO of the Year
March 18, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion selected Sgt. 1st Class Jo-Ann Lindquist-Rucker as their noncommissioned officer of the year in a short ceremony held March 15, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion recognizes Sgt. 1st Class Jo-Ann Lindquist-Rucker as the battalion’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2021 during a small ceremony held March 15, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Lindquist-Rucker serves as the battalion’s senior supply sergeant. (U.S. Army National Guard photo Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

Richmond recruiter talks family, career and women’s strength
March 14, 2022 — With a house full of boys, a multi-hour roundtrip commute to work and a demanding job as a recruiter for the Virginia Army National Guard, Staff Sgt. Brittany Brayboy is busy. But, she’s part of a diverse family and making time to recognize and celebrate diversity is important for her and her family. ... MORE

Troops to Trucks program paves way for military drivers to earn CDL
March 7, 2022 — In Virginia, the Troops to Trucks program, managed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, provides an avenue of ease for current and former military members to obtain their commercial driver’s license. For most, obtaining a CDL requires both a knowledge and a skills test, but for military members both requirements may be waived depending on military driving experience and occupational specialty... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from across the nation practice alley docking an M915s during an 88M Motor Transport Operator Course, taught by cadre assigned to 2nd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Aug. 2, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Successful completion of the two-phase, four-week course will certify Soldiers as 88M Motor Transport Operators with the primary responsibility of operating wheeled vehicles. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

VNG opens pathway for success for Va. Beach recruiter
February 16, 2022 — In joining the Virginia Army National Guard more than two decades ago, Staff Sgt. LaTesse Hall found the kind of stability that had long been missing from her life. The child of two parents who struggled with substance abuse, Hall grew up in poverty... MORE

Black History Month chance to celebrate, recognize trailblazers for VNG NCO
February 9, 2022 — Even though military service seemed inevitable for Staff Sgt. Brandon L. Huntley, he tried to avoid it. Military service was his father’s thing and Huntley felt strongly about forging his own path, building his own legacy. But, as the years after high school passed, he still felt called to serve. At 25-years-old, he joined the Virginia Army National Guard, enlisting as a 19D Cavalry Scout as a nod to the Buffalo Soldiers who came before him... MORE

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