ChalleNGe welcomes guests for Class 63 Family Day
Red Dragons participate in Finish sniper competition
VaARNG NCO receives rare direct commission
VAARNG Soldiers conduct CBRN exercise in Finland
VNG participates in counter-mobility operations exchange in Finland

FEATURED STORIES

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact training lane June 17, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation.
116th IBCT officially converted to mobile brigade combat team
Oct. 17, 2025
​​​​​​​The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was officially converted to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team effective Oct. 16, 2025, by the Army Structure Memorandum, commonly referred to as the ARSTRUC.
The Virginia National Guard formally re-activates the 29th Infantry Division Artillery, or DIVARTY, during a ceremony Sept. 6, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony featuring the uncasing of colors for DIVARTY and DIVARTY’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery. Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski, the 29th ID commanding general, and Col. Shawn Talmadge, DIVARTY commander, gave remarks, and the Troutville-based 29th ID Band provided ceremonial music for the event. The DIVARTY, based in Bowling Green, Virginia, is a brigade-level headquarters, aligned with the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, and two other artillery battalions in Florida and Georgia for training. The 29th DIVARTY was deactivated in 2005 due to Army-wide force structure changes, but evolving operational requirements have brought it back to the force. Read more DIVARTY at https://vngpao.info/DIVARTY.
Ceremony formalizes return of 29th ID DIVARTY
Sept. 18, 2025
The Virginia National Guard formally re-activated the 29th Infantry Division Artillery, or DIVARTY, during a ceremony Sept. 6, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony featuring the uncasing of colors for DIVARTY and DIVARTY’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Virginia National Guard logo
Financial support available to Virginia National Guardsmen
Nov. 4, 2025
The Virginia National Guard has multiple resources ready to help service members and their families navigate difficult financial situations, including government shutdowns, designed to help those in the VNG family cope during hardships. 
The Fort Pickett-based Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command hosts combat medics from across the state for 68W sustainment training Oct. 20-24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The course, typically held twice annually, incorporates classroom and practical training as well as evaluated simulated care in both medical and trauma-related scenarios. The sustainment course is necessary for the VNG’s combat medics to retain their 68W military occupational specialty, and must be completed every two years.
VNG Combat Medics tackle 68W sustainment training
Nov. 3, 2025
The Fort Pickett-based Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command hosted combat medics from across the state for 68W sustainment training Oct. 20-24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Chart of ribbons approved for Virginia National Guard personnel
Major update to state awards regulations published
Oct. 23, 2025
Effective immediately, the Virginia National Guard has updated its primary regulation governing state military awards to reflect procedural changes and introduce new recognitions.
Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy cadets complete drill and ceremony demonstration for family, friends and Virginia National Guard leadership during Class 63’s Family Day Oct. 18, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Commonwealth ChalleNGe is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. ChalleNGe is a 29-and-a-half-month program which includes a five-and-a-half-month residential phase, followed by a 24-month post-residential phase. It is free to Virginia teens aged 15 1/2 - 18. (Courtesy photo)
ChalleNGe welcomes guests for Class 63 Family Day
Oct. 22, 2025
The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy welcomed families and friends of Class 63 cadets to Family Day Oct. 18, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cadets conducted a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration before enjoying several hours with their families and friends, who were invited to tour classrooms and living spaces, as well as meet ChalleNGe teachers and cadre.
Sgt. 1st Class Trevor W. Dunkle is promoted to second lieutenant through the highly-selective direct commission program Oct. 18, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Dunkle, a cavalry scout, joint fires support specialist and Infantryman with deployments, leadership roles and broad operational experience, now transitions to serve as a field artillery officer.
VaARNG NCO receives direct commission
Oct. 21, 2025
Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to witness a defining moment in the military career of Trevor W. Dunkle, as he was promoted from sergeant first class to second lieutenant through the highly-selective direct commission program Oct. 18, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia. 
A contingent of Virginia Air National Guard personnel spent time observing PROTECTIVE FENCE 2025, a major exercise conducted by the Finnish Air Force to test its air component readiness Sept. 22 - 26, 2025, in Finland. Ten Airmen traveled to Finland with the goal of identifying and sharing best practices across the key functional areas of flying operations, maintenance, force protection and intelligence. The exercise provided an opportunity to directly examine Finnish tactics related to agile combat employment, or ACE.
VaANG team observes Finnish Air Force agile combat employment tactics
Oct. 20, 2025
A contingent of Virginia Air National Guard personnel recently spent time observing PROTECTIVE FENCE 2025, a major exercise conducted by the Finnish Air Force to test its air component readiness Sept. 22 - 26, 2025, in Finland. 
A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team compete in the HÄYHÄ Finnish Sniper Competition Sept. 5 - 7, 2025, in Pahkajärvi, Finland. The snipers’ participation in the competition was in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland have been formal partners since 2024. The HÄYHÄ competition is named for legendary World War II Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä. The international event, hosted by organizations including the Finnish Sniper Guild and the National Defense Training Association, consists of multiple days of different shooting and soldiering challenges specifically designed for snipers.
Red Dragons participate in Finnish sniper competition 
Oct. 20, 2025
A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the HÄYHÄ Finnish Sniper Competition Sept. 5 - 7, 2025, in Pahkajärvi, Finland. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact training lane June 17, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation.
116th IBCT officially converted to mobile brigade combat team
Oct. 17, 2025
​​​​​​​The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was officially converted to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team effective Oct. 16, 2025, by the Army Structure Memorandum, commonly referred to as the ARSTRUC.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participate in the Finnish Engineer Platoon Counter-Mobility Operations 25 course Aug. 25 - 29, 2025, at the Kainuu Brigade in Kajaani, Finland. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland have been formal partners since 2024.
VNG participates in counter-mobility operations exchange in Finland
Oct. 3, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in the Finnish Engineer Platoon Counter-Mobility Operations 25 course Aug. 25 - 29, 2025, at the Kainuu Brigade in Kajaani, Finland.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 229th Chemical Company, 329th Regional Support Group, and Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conduct a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exchange with members of the Finnish Defense Forces during Exercise Karelian Stronghold Sept. 1 - 5, 2025, near Helsinki, Finland.
VaARNG Soldiers conduct CBRN exercise in Finland
Sept. 30, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 229th Chemical Company, 329th Regional Support Group, and Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exchange with members of the Finnish Defense Forces during Exercise Karelian Stronghold Sept. 1 - 5, 2025, near Helsinki, Finland.

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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.

J9 Resiliency Directorate Financial Assistance Information

A consolidated list of resources available to assist during periods of financial hardship or government disruption.

Click HERE to download this information as a PDF

Virginia National Guard Family Programs
24 Hour Emergency Hotline: 434-480-6585

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION & RESPONSE

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

RESILIENCY RESOURCES

The Virginia National Guard J9 Directorate of Resiliency brings together Soldier-care efforts under one umbrella and includes: 

  • the Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce
  • Family Programs
  • Resilience, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention
  • Religious Support
  • the State Equal Employment Manager
  • the Sexual Assault Response Workforce

QUICK LINKS

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