VNG senior enlisted leaders meet with Finnish counterparts
St. Lo Battalion squads compete for “Chubby Cup”
Antiterrorism Officer Course trains Soldiers, Airmen, civilians from around the country
116th IBCT provides OPFOR support for JRTC rotation
203rd RED HORSE enhances operational readiness through deployment for training at Lajes Field
Ceremony bids farewell to 1940th, 1945th Contracting Teams
Cooper's journey of grit, growth at ARNG's Best Warrior Competition
Rail tank cars added to petroleum training program at Fort Barfoot

FEATURED STORIES

Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leaders prepare to travel via Jurmo-class landing craft to engage with the Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer at the Finnish Naval Academy during a senior NCO exchange Aug. 19- 23, 2024 in Finland. Command Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich, the Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed Jr., the Virginia Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major, Chief Master Sgt. Ian Stegherr, Virginia Air National Guard State Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, 192nd Wing Command Chief and Senior Master Sgt. Justin Connor, 192nd Security Forces Senior Enlisted Leader, all participated in the exchange, where they met with a variety of senior enlisted leaders from the Finnish Defense Forces and collaborated on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
VNG senior enlisted leaders meet with Finnish counterparts
Sept. 11, 2024
Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leadership traveled to Finland Aug. 19- 23, 2024, to collaborate with members of the Finnish Defence Forces on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Dinonno, commander of the 29th Infantry Division, lays a wreath along with a French dignitary at the National Guard Monument situated above Omaha Beach in Vierville-sur-Mer, France, June 2, 2024. This monument sits at the spot where National Guard Soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division broke through German defenses on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Commemorative events such as these serve to honor the sacrifices U.S. service members made 80 years ago in securing peace and security, and inspiring future generations to value a collective vision of global peace.
80th anniversary of D-Day observed abroad, at home
June 13, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers paid tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of the U.S. and Allied Forces who participated in the June 1944 invasion of Normandy and commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day at multiple events on and around June 6, 2024, in France, Virginia and Louisiana.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Approximately 20 Virginia National Guard 20 Soldiers are staged and ready with tactical trucks capable of high water transportation Sept. 26, 2024, in Abingdon, Virginia, in order to support the response to potential impacts of Hurricane Helene.
VNG staged, ready in Abingdon, Roanoke for possible severe weather response operations
Sept. 27, 2024
The Virginia National Guard staged approximately 20 Soldiers with tactical trucks capable of high mobility transportation Sept. 26, 2024, in the Abingdon area in order to support the response to potential impacts of Hurricane Helene. The VNG also staged two Black Hawk helicopters with transport, damage assessment and rescue hoist capabilities in the Roanoke area.
Thirteen officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School celebrate the completion of their OCS experience during a commissioning ceremony held Sept. 15, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The ceremony recognized graduates from both the traditional OCS Class 66 and accelerated Classes 67A and 67B. During the event, the candidates took the oath of office and were pinned with second lieutenant rank by family members and friends. Retired Brig. Gen. James Zollar served as the guest speaker, while the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided musical accompaniment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
VNG celebrates commissioning of 13 new lieutenants
Sept. 25, 2024
The Virginia National Guard celebrated the commissioning of 13 new lieutenants at a ceremony held Sept. 15, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The event marked the end of Officer Candidate School for the candidates enrolled in Class 66, 67A and 67B.
Staff Sgt. Diana Hudson, center, poses with her mentors, Sgt. 1st Class LaTesse Hall, left, and Sgt. 1st Class Gertha Cleveland, right.
VNG NCO reflects on her path from border town to recruiting success
Sept. 24, 2024
Staff Sgt. Diana Hudson spent her earliest years in a rural Mexican border town. Her family’s home, built from wooden pallets, had a dirt floor and no plumbing. Since then, she’s emigrated to the United States, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, started a family, earned an undergraduate degree and, more recently, became one of the top recruiters in the Virginia Army National Guard.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 229th Military Policy Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group help kick off the “Push for Life Challenge” Sept. 8, 2024, in Hanover, Virginia. (Contributed photo)
Pioneers “Push for Life” during Suicide Awareness Month
Sept. 23, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, have knocked out nearly 22,200 pushups as of Sept. 23, 2024, in support of the Virginia National Guard Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention’s and Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce’s “Push for Life Challenge.” The Soldiers completed 10,000 pushup repetitions during their regularly scheduled drill weekend held Sept. 8 and have kept pushing every day since.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participate in the Virginia Public Safety Foundation’s 10th Annual Commemorative Ceremony Sept. 14, 2024, at the Virginia Public Safety Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Army and Air Guard senior leaders participated in the roll call of Guard members, first responders and other Virginians who have died in service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Other VNG Soldiers and Airmen also participated in the ceremony, including the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band, which provided ceremonial music and a bugler for the playing of taps. The memorial, established in 2014, includes the names of 32 Virginia National Guard service members who died on official state or federal orders under Title 32 of the United States Code.
VNG Soldiers, Airmen honor those remembered at Public Safety Memorial
Sept. 20, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen helped honor those being remembered at the Virginia Public Safety Foundation’s 10th Annual Commemorative Ceremony Sept. 14, 2024, at the Virginia Public Safety Memorial in Richmond, Virginia.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, right, Air National Guard deputy director, poses for a group photo after touring the new Expandable Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen with members from the 192nd Wing, Virginia ANG and the 127th Wing, Michigan ANG during the cookies for delegates event Sept. 6, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The rapid-deployable E-SPEK enables services members to feed personnel in various field conditions from domestic operations to deployed environments, including remote and austere locations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Eugene Silvers)
192nd demonstrates new mobile kitchen at ANG Congressional Day
Sept. 17, 2024
Airmen from the 192nd Support Squadron, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, demonstrated the capabilities of their new mobile kitchen, the Expandable Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen, during the cookies for congressional delegates event Sept. 6, 2024, at the Air National Guard Congressional Day.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion travelled to the Republic of Korea to participate in the multi-national exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield Aug. 16 - 29, 2024, at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Republic of Korea.
1030th Soldiers travel to South Korea for Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield
Sept. 16, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion travelled to the Republic of Korea to participate in the multi-national exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield Aug. 16 - 29, 2024, at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Republic of Korea. 
Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leaders prepare to travel via Jurmo-class landing craft to engage with the Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer at the Finnish Naval Academy during a senior NCO exchange Aug. 19- 23, 2024 in Finland. Command Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich, the Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed Jr., the Virginia Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major, Chief Master Sgt. Ian Stegherr, Virginia Air National Guard State Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, 192nd Wing Command Chief and Senior Master Sgt. Justin Connor, 192nd Security Forces Senior Enlisted Leader, all participated in the exchange, where they met with a variety of senior enlisted leaders from the Finnish Defense Forces and collaborated on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
VNG senior enlisted leaders meet with Finnish counterparts
Sept. 11, 2024
Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leadership traveled to Finland Aug. 19- 23, 2024, to collaborate with members of the Finnish Defence Forces on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team compete in the battalion's Carl “Chubby” Proffitt Jr. Squad Competition, known as the “Chubby Cup,” Sept. 7, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. Each team competed in a series of events including physical fitness, marksmanship, a ruck march, react to contact, casualty evacuation and a pugil stick battle. The competition honors both the unit’s lineage and the legacy of Proffitt, who served with 3-116th during World War II, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Read more about 3rd Battalion at https://bit.ly/3Mzedlk.
St. Lo Battalion squads compete for “Chubby Cup”
Sept. 9, 2024
Ten teams of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the battalion’s 3rd annual Carl “Chubby” Proffitt Jr. Squad Competition Sept. 7, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. 
The Virginia Army National Guard Antiterrorism Program hosts an Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course Aug. 21, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. More than 30 Soldiers and Airmen from the Virginia National Guard, Maine National Guard and New Mexico National Guard, as well as active-duty Soldiers and an Army civilian, attended the weeklong course, which trains students in the roles and responsibilities of an antiterrorism officer down to battalion level. The course was taught by three instructors from the U.S. Army Military Police School from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Antiterrorism Officer Course trains Soldiers, Airmen, civilians from around the country
Sept. 5, 2024
The Virginia Army National Guard Antiterrorism Program hosted an Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course Aug. 19- 23, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. More than 30 Soldiers and Airmen from the Virginia National Guard, Maine National Guard and New Mexico National Guard, as well as active-duty Soldiers and an Army civilian, attended the weeklong course, which trains students in the roles and responsibilities of an antiterrorism officer.

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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.

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION & RESPONSE

  • Virginia National Guard Reporting sexual assault line - 434-294-4669
  • DoD Safe Helpline - 877-995-5247/ 202-470-5546 (Oconus)

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.

QUICK LINKS

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