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 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.

The Virginia National Guard mobilized approximately 55 personnel to provide water distribution support Jan. 10-11, 2025, to Richmond, Virginia, and also staged approximately 50 personnel to prepare for potential winter storm response at multiple locations across the state. 

 Lt. Col. Eric L. Quinn will succeed Col. James C. Shaver Jr. as the Fort Barfoot garrison commander according to an announcement made Jan. 2, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. A change of command ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Fort Barfoot Theater.

Forty-four cadets graduated from Class 61 of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy Dec. 21, 2024, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Rusty McGuire, Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives, retired Col. Everton Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and United States Marine Corps Capt. Jergen “Cam” Campbell, a CCYA graduate and guest speaker for the ceremony, joined Jen Lanz, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe, in congratulating each of the graduates.

The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 70 Soldiers Jan. 5, 2024, at VNG facilities at key locations along the I-95 and Route 29 corridors and Southwest Virginia in order to support the response to severe winter weather expected to impact Virginia.

Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers and two North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers trained on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program Dec. 9-13, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Fort Barfoot officially broke ground on a new Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center during a ceremony Dec. 13, 2024, marking the latest in a series of efforts to improve MWR amenities and events on the installation. 

The 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, provided operational support to the medical thread during Bold Quest 2024 from Oct. 21 to Nov. 2, 2024, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in retention flights Dec. 7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.

Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees attended a DMA recognition and appreciation holiday luncheon Dec. 11, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia, as a measure of thanks for their efforts over the course of 2024. 

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted sling load training Dec. 7, 2024, at Blackstone Army Airfield in Blackstone, Virginia.