329th RSG’s Warren, 116th IBCT’s Garner tops at Best Warrior Competition
VNG Combat Engineers train with Finnish counterparts during Arctic Forge 25
Aviation crews train on aerial fire suppression at Fort Barfoot
Virginia Guard facilities team wins two national awards
134th Chaplain Detachment supports 1st ID at National Training Center
Hawley takes responsibility as VaARNG senior enlisted leader
VNG, Finland participate in Arctic Interest Council conference
91st Cyber Brigade direct commissions veteran as LTC
VNG Officer Candidate School accepting applications for traditional and accelerated classes

FEATURED STORIES

Virginia National Guard logo
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.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assist with commodity distribution Feb. 18, 2025, in Southwest Virginia. Soldiers deployed to the area to assist local emergency managers supporting citizens impacted by severe weather and power outages.
VNG wraps up support to Southwest Virginia
Feb. 26, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers ended their missions in Southwest Virginia Feb. 23, 2025, after deploying to the area Feb. 14 to assist local emergency managers supporting citizens impacted by severe weather and power outages.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Virginia National Guard Foundation logo
Virginia National Guard Foundation supports VNG, VDF service members in need
March 26, 2025
The Virginia National Guard Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides emergency financial assistance in the form of grants to Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, members of the Virginia Defense Force, Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees and their families in order to enhance their health, safety, well-being and welfare.  
Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognizes staff from the Virginia Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Management Office March 17, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, for receiving first place in Region 2 in the category of Best Overall Performance at the 2025 Programming and Guidance Conference at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Best Overall Performance included top scores in real estate and real property, compliance and conservation.
Virginia Army National Guard facilities team wins two national awards
March 24, 2025
Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognized staff from the Virginia Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Management Office March 17, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia, for receiving two first place national-level awards at the 2025 Programming and Guidance Conference at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Pfc. Nicholas Warren and Sgt. Ivo Garner are named the Virginia Army National Guard’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during a ceremony following the VaARNG Best Warrior Competition March 16, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Warren, assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, and Garner, assigned to the Lynchburg-based Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, will represent Virginia at the Region II BWC later this year. Warren and Garner outlasted their competition over four days of events designed to test their Soldier skills, strength, endurance, marksmanship and knowledge. More photos from the event can be found at https://vngpao.info/ywy9vzfc.
329th RSG’s Warren, 116th IBCT’s Garner tops at Best Warrior Competition
March 21, 2025
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 329th Regional Support Group and the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took top honors at the 2025 VaARNG Best Warrior Competition March 13-16, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. 
Fort Barfoot Fire and Emergency Services personnel manage a prescribed burn along with the staff from Natural Resources Division of the Fort Barfoot Department of Public Works March 12, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The prescribed burn helped to support military training by reducing fuel loads in the area, thereby lessening the risk for dangerous and intense wildfires that can be caused by incendiary devices and lead to training downtime. Other objectives of the burn were to improve wildlife habitat and timber stand improvement in forest management areas. Virginia National Guard aviation crews also conducted aerial fire suppression training during the burn - view photos at https://vngpao.info/3bnjy5f4.
VNG aviation crews train on fire suppression during Fort Barfoot prescribed burn
March 17, 2025
Virginia National Guard aviation crews assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division trained on aerial fire suppression with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with water buckets March 12, 2025, during a prescribed burn at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.
Capt. David Porter (second from left), Sgt. 1st Class Christina McDermott (second from right) and Maj. Will Cochrane (far right), pose with Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division chaplain section in January 2025 at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. The three Virginia National Guard Soldiers provided chaplain support to the Fort Riley- based 1st Infantry Division during its NTC training rotation Jan. 17- 31, 2025.
134th Chaplain Detachment supports 1st ID at National Training Center
March 11, 2025
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 134th Chaplain Detachment traveled to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, Jan. 17- 31, 2025, where they provided chaplain support to the Fort Riley- based 1st Infantry Division during its NTC training rotation.
Soldiers assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group stand together in front of the ‘Eleven Row’ anti-vehicle obstacle they constructed to demonstrate U.S. counter-mobility tactics for Finland’s Kymi Engineer Battalion.
237th Engineers train with Finnish counterparts during Arctic Forge 25
March 10, 2025
A platoon of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group recently took part in a cold-weather training exercise with the Finnish Defense Force, marking a milestone in the VNG's partnership with Finland.
Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy M. Hawley takes responsibility as the Virginia Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major from Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. during a ceremony March 1, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Charles B. Martin Jr. , Commander of the Virginia Army National Guard, presided over the ceremony which included an exchange of colors representing the change of responsibility from Reed to Hawley. Reed was also recognized for retiring with more than 38 years of service. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided music for the event. Read more about Hawley at https://vngpao.info/3h6tvbvc and Reed at https://vngpao.info/yc5z3tmz.
Hawley takes responsibility as VaARNG senior enlisted leader
March 7, 2025
Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy M. Hawley took responsibility as the Virginia Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major from Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. during a ceremony March 1, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The Virginia National Guard Management Group, in coordination with the Virginia National Guard, host the National Guard Arctic Interest Council annual conference February. 11 and 12, 2025, in Springfield, Virginia. Military and civilian entities including the VNG, other NGAIC states, U.S. Army North and several civilian vendors participated in the conference, as did contingents from allied nations including Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. The VNG is formal partners with Finland through the State Partnership Program.
VNG, Finland participate in Arctic Interest Council conference
March 7, 2025
The Virginia National Guard Management Group, in coordination with the Virginia National Guard, hosted the National Guard Arctic Interest Council annual conference Feb. 11 - 12, 2025, in Springfield, Virginia. 
Lt. Col. Robert M. Lee speaks to a crowd of 91st Cyber Brigade Soldiers, family, friends and supporters, as part of his direct commissioning ceremony March 1, 2025, at 91st headquarters, Fort Belvoir, Va. Lee, an internationally-known expert in cybersecurity and operational technology, is the first cyber professional to direct commission to lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard.
91st Cyber Brigade direct commissions veteran as LTC
March 6, 2025
The Virginia National Guard direct-commissioned Robert M. Lee to the rank of lieutenant colonel - a first in the Army National Guard cybersecurity field - in an appointment ceremony March 1, 2025, at the 91st Cyber Brigade headquarters at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 
Virginia National Guard logo
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.

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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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