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Recruiting & Retention Battalion
Newest R&R 1SG talks resilience, family balance
March 25, 2021
— RICHMOND, Va. — First Sgt. Ebony Bridges, assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, said reaching her current rank is something she’s incredibly proud of. As a Black woman, the road to her current position hasn’t always been easy, and there was a point when she thought she’d never be promoted past sergeant first class. But, she stayed the course and kept giving her best to the organization...
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Army Guard recruiter recommits to college commitment
March 1, 2021
— HAMPTON, Va. -- When Staff Sgt. Monisha Braxton was 17, her main goal was to go to college. Her financial situation made that goal extra challenging and while other students her age were making college plans, she was busy working in the food service industry. Braxton graduated high school with honors and looked into taking some classes at a local community college. The tuition was still more than she could afford so, she joined the U.S. Army, largely because the Army recruiter was the first to return her call...
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Retention team finds success as Soldiers return from D.C. mission
February 22, 2021
— FORT PICKETT, Va. — When Soldiers returned to Virginia after supporting law enforcement in Washington, D.C, they were met by a bustling operation at Fort Pickett. This was the final phase of their mission, the part that made sure their orders were processed, their travel vouchers filed. Among the many stations set up there, was one for retention. Thanks to the efforts of the Virginia National Guard’s retention team, a total of 106 Soldiers successfully extended their enlistments. ...
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Recruiter talks Guard benefits, importance of recognizing Black leaders
February 18, 2021
— NORFOLK, Va. -- For Sgt. 1st Class Gertha L. Cleveland, a recruiter with the Virginia Army National Guard, a point of personal pride is her service in all three components of the U.S. Army. Over the course of her military career, she’s served on active duty and in both the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard. Cleveland first served in the USAR before entering active duty. She then took a break from her military career. Just over a year later, a National Guard recruiter contacted her and, realizing she missed her military family, she was quickly convinced the National Guard was right for her. Two weeks after her initial conversation with the recruiter, she enlisted in the National Guard...
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Soldier's 80-lb weight loss journey leads to military service
December 2, 2020
— RICHMOND, Va. — When he was 17, Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson struggled with his weight. At 5 feet, 7 inches tall, he weighed in at around 250 pounds. “Over the years, I had been made fun of, bullied, talked about, put down, denied certain extracurricular activities, criticized, etcetera because of my weight,” Jackson said. None of that did much to boost his self-esteem or confidence, but eventually he decided to try out for his high school’s basketball team...
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Dual military couple says finding each other is best military perk
November 17, 2020
— RICHMOND, Va. — The challenges of being a dual-military couple are balanced by the benefits. On one hand, couples share the experience of military service, which can be a foundation for strength for many. On the other hand, these couples face the challenge of juggling two military careers with the demands of family life...
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VNG holds ACFT challenge, names top battalion team
March 9, 2020
— RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 45 Soldiers from 16 Virginia Army National Guard battalions participated in a Battalion Army Combat Fitness Test Challenge Feb. 28, 2020, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Three-man teams from 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion…...
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Staunton recruiter hits the streets with new ruck club
February 26, 2020
— RICHMOND, Va. — Sgt. Donald Arbaugh, a new recruiter with the Virginia Army National Guard, recently started a ruck club in Staunton, Virginia. Arbaugh wanted to do something new that would both serve a recruiting tool for people interested in serving in the National Guard, as well as a way…...
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VNG recruit becomes first female to enlist as 11B
January 13, 2020
— FORT LEE, Virginia – One of the Virginia Army National Guard’s newest recruits, Pvt. Ana-Alicia Bennett made history when she enlisted as an 11B Infantryman Dec. 19, 2019, at the Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Lee, Virginia. Bennett is the first female to enlist into the Virginia Army National…...
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Va. Army Guard recruiters recognized as top in region
November 22, 2019
— RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard recruiters took the top spots for both regional recruiter of the year and regional recruiting supervisor of the year following a board held Nov. 7, 2019, in West Virginia. Master Sgt. Donnie Brizendine and Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Fretwell competed against their peers from neighboring states...
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Va. Army Guard selects top recruiters
October 30, 2019
— RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion held its end-of-year boards to name their top performers Oct. 11, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Dustin Haislip was named as the 2019 Rookie of the Year, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Fretwell was named the 2019 Recruiter of the Year, Master Sgt. Donnie Brizendine was named the 2019 Expert Seven of the Year, and Sgt. Austin Strutz was named the 2019 Active Duty Operational Support Person of the Year...
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Paintball leads to enlistment to follow in father’s footsteps
August 16, 2019
— VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As soon as Pfc. Adrianna S. Apelt put on her father’s old Army uniform to play paintball, she knew. “I saw myself in the mirror and realized this was what I was supposed to do,” she exclaimed. “It just fit!” Two months later, during her senior year at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, Apelt joined the Virginia Army National Guard...
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Recruit Sustainment Program produces greater success rate for newer recruits
August 6, 2019
— VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 70 newly-recruited Soldiers participated in a combined training event as part of the Virginia National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program July 20, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The recruits meet one weekend a month to focus on administrative tasks and participate in training events that help prepare them for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training...
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Son follows father into Virginia Army National Guard
July 24, 2019
— FORT LEE, Va. — Pvt. Andrew Lee Ross followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted into the Virginia Army National Guard July 2, 2019, at the Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Lee, Virginia. He follows a long line of family members into the military, and his oath of enlistment was administered by his uncle, Lt. Col. Steven Gutierrez, in front of his mother, siblings and father, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Merritt, a recruiter for the Virginia Army National Guard...
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Va. National Guard hosts inaugural Women’s Summit
June 14, 2019
— FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard hosted their inaugural Women’s Summit June 19, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Women from across the force attended the event, which this year focused on balancing the demands of women’s personal and professional lives...
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