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Updates to VNG social media, website content
March 5, 2025
Content on this platform is being reviewed, removed and archived to align with the President's executive orders and Department of Defense priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17. For any questions regarding social media policies, please refer to “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes” guidance available on the DOD web site at https://vngpao.info/4mj56vjp.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Joyce Reed presents a Governor of Virginia proclamation recognizing the Virginia National Guard’s 418th  birthday to Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, VNG Director of the Joint Staff, after a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond.
Virginia National Guard celebrates 418th birthday
May 21, 2025
The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 418th birthday May 14, 2025, with a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosts a Civic Leader Appreciation Day June 6, 2025, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Educators from around the state met senior leaders of the VAARNG, learned information about the organization and opportunities available to their students, and got to experience a flight in a Black Hawk helicopter courtesy of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Battalion. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Civic Leader Appreciation Day showcases VAARNG to Virginia educators
June 17, 2025
The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted its second annual Civic Leader Appreciation Day June 6, 2025, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Approximately 100 teachers, school administrators, and support staff attended the event, where they met senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard, learned information about the organization and opportunities available to their students, and had the opportunity to experience a flight in a Black Hawk helicopter, courtesy of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Battalion.

U.S. Army Maj. Michael Kone, assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, cleans the headstone of Maj. Thomas D. Howie, the “Major of St. Lo,” June 5, 2025, at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Howie was a battalion commander in the 29th ID and was killed in action during the Battle of Normandy while leading his men in an effort to capture Saint-Lô. More than 600 U.S. service members, including 30 from the 29th ID, are in Normandy to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
29th ID Soldiers participate in Normandy D-Day commemoration
June 13, 2025
As the sun rose on the northern coast of France June 6, 2025, a group of 30 U.S. National Guard Soldiers, all assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, organized themselves into a neat formation. The tide was in and, as the Atlantic Ocean lapped against Omaha Beach, a crowd gathered around the Soldiers. The onlookers had come from all over, traveling from nearby French villages and towns, neighboring European nations and, of course, the United States. Everyone there that morning - from the most junior Soldier standing in formation, to the oldest reenactor on the beach - was there to pay tribute to the men who stormed Normandy’s beaches on D-Day.

Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers participate in the 81st D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2025, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, the Virginia Secretary for Veterans and Defense Affairs, gave remarks during the ceremony, and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, recited the names and stories of the 10 World War II veterans in attendance. VNG Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, participated in a wreath laying, and the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music. The ceremony commemorated the 81st anniversary of the allied landings in Normandy, France, during World War II.
VNG helps commemorate D-Day 81 in Bedford
June 12, 2025
Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers participated in the 81st D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2025, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, on the anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II.

Fort Pickett, Virginia
Virginia National Guard military installation renamed to honor World War II hero
June 10, 2025
By order of the Secretary of Defense, the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Barfoot military installation near Blackstone, Virginia, has been renamed as Fort Pickett, effective June 11, 2025, to honor 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett for his extraordinary heroism during World War II.

Col. Beau Mason, Virginia National Guard construction and facilities management officer, Lt. Col. Eric Quinn, Fort Barfoot garrison commander, and retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, present awards to DMA workers as part of a state employee recognition luncheon May 22, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. During the presentation, DMA employees were recognized for both agency-level accomplishments as well as for service anniversaries. Quinn and Nevers gave remarks during the event, thanking the installation’s state workers for their hard work supporting the VNG and other organizations training at the installation. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
DMA Employees at Fort Barfoot recognized during appreciation luncheon
June 10, 2025
Col. Beau Mason, Virginia National Guard construction and facilities management officer, Lt. Col. Eric Quinn, Fort Barfoot garrison commander, and retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, presented awards to DMA workers as part of a state employee recognition luncheon May 22, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bedford-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact situational training lane June 9, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal.
116th IBCT to field test new mobile brigade combat team organization
June 9, 2025
The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno  as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made June 3, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. A change of command ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 3 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Samulski to succeed DiNonno as 29th Infantry Division commanding general
June 4, 2025
Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno  as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made June 3, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.

Spc. Emmanuel Olguin, assigned to the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, competes at the 2025 Lincoln, Nebraska, Marathon May 4, 2025, for a spot on the All-Guard Competition Team. Olguin ran a 2:59:57 to earn a spot on the team. He will now spend the next two years racing in numerous events, ranging from 5Ks to full marathons, with the All-Guard Competition Team. The Virginia National Guard Endurance Team is currently training and getting ready for the All-Guard Endurance Trials in FY26.
VNG Endurance Team Soldiers compete at All-Guard Marathon Trials
June 3, 2025
Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard Endurance Team competed in the All-Guard Marathon Trials May 4, 2025, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Lincoln Marathon, for an opportunity to earn a spot on the All-Guard Competition Team.  

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company say their final goodbyes and load out for their federal active duty mobilization to the U.S. Central Command area of operations May 29, 2025, in Hanover and Richmond, Virginia. Select Soldiers were recognized for outstanding duty performance with battalion challenge coins before they loaded buses and traveled to board the flight to their mobilization station in Texas. Battalion- and state-level leaders were on hand to thank Soldiers for their service and send them off on their mission.
Ceremony marks official start of 229th MP Company mobilization
June 3, 2025
Approximately 150 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company mark the start of their federal active duty mobilization to the U.S. Central Command area of operations with a departure ceremony May 28, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia.

Capt. Joshua McAnnally, the bilateral affairs officer to Tajikistan, explores Tajikistan. McAnnally says his family has adapted well living in Tajikistan. As a BAO, McAnnally manages defense and security cooperation between Virginia and Tajikistan.
Bilateral affairs officers serve as vital connection between VNG, SPP partners
June 2, 2025
As part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, Virginia is paired with both Finland and Tajikistan to engage in a wide array of military activities, ranging from joint training exercises and subject matter expert exchanges to disaster response and humanitarian aid initiatives. Key components of these SPP relationships are the work and dedication of bilateral affairs officers — Virginia National Guard officers who live in Finland and Tajikistan and manage defense and security cooperation between Virginia and the officers’ host countries.

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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)

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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