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Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, the commander of the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Elliot, the battalion's senior enlisted advisor, uncase their unit colors during a transfer of authority ceremony in Powidz, Poland, March 11, 2024. The 529th CSSB and outgoing 787th CSSB are among a multi-compositional array of units within 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe. Maldonado and Elliot uncased their unit colors and Lt. Col. Jeoffrey Hall and Command Sgt. Maj. Clint Halstead, the 787th CSSB command team, cased theirs, symbolically demonstrating the formal transfer of responsibility for the mission from one another. Col. Jennifer McDonough, the commander of the 3rd DSB, congratulated the outgoing team for completing a challenging mission and welcomed the incoming team as the reviewing officer of the ceremony. The 787th CSSB is based in Dothan, Alabama, and the 529th CSSB deployed from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
529th CSSB takes responsibility for sustainment mission in Poland
March 12, 2024
The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion unfurled its organizational colors and took responsibility for logistics, maintenance, and supply missions from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a ceremony March 11, 2024, at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland.

Fifty-seven Soldiers and Airmen assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa earned the GAFPB July 4-5, 2022, at Camp Simba, Kenya. The badge is a test of physical fitness and shooting proficiency with three levels of the award that can be earned: gold, silver, and bronze. It is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
VNG Soldiers eligible for promotion, recruiting ribbon, $1K bonus for referrals
March 3, 2023
Helping grow the Virginia Army National Guard recently became an even more lucrative endeavor with the expansion of the ARNG’s Stripes for Buddies program and the announcement of a new Army Recruiting Ribbon. When paired with the VNG’s Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, getting a buddy to enlist could equate to a $1,000 bonus, a promotion up to the rank of specialist or promotion points for sergeants and staff sergeants, and the award of the Army Recruiting Ribbon.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Capt. Catherine Bean, on the far left left, poses with friends and peers. (Courtesy photo)
Mother, mentors provide guiding light for engineer captain
March 28, 2024
When Capt. Catherine Bean raised the idea of joining the military, her mother was an immediate voice of support. At the time, Bean was still in high school. She wanted to join the military, but she also wanted to attend college. With her mother’s guidance, she researched ROTC programs. Then, the two hit the road, logging hundreds of miles together as they visited universities that could offer Bean an ROTC scholarship. Eventually, Bean settled on the Army ROTC program at the University of Mississippi.

Women veterans from all military branches receive pins recognizing their service during a Virginia Women Veterans Week event March 21, 2024, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Dozens of women veterans were honored with a “Virginia Woman Veterans Lead the Way” pin during the ceremony led by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who served in the United States Marine Corps. Retired Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Chuck Zingler, the Virginia Department of Veterans Services commissioner, were also on hand to thank the women for their service. During the ceremony, Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard “Shep” Miller III and Del. Jackie Glass, a U.S. Navy veteran, helped unveil a new Virginia license plate honoring women veterans. Current and former members of the Virginia National Guard were among the women receiving pins. Read more about the new license plate at https://ngpa.us/28983.
Women veterans honored at War Memorial ceremony
March 26, 2024
Women veterans from all military branches received pins recognizing their service during a Virginia Women Veterans Week event March 21, 2024, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia.

Fort Barfoot leaders and employees along with community representatives celebrate the first anniversary of the redesignation of the installation in honor of Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties March 22, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Col. James C. Shaver Jr., the Fort Barfoot garrison commander, presided over the ceremony, which featured remarks from retired Lt. Col. Tom Barfoot, the installation namesake’s oldest son, and Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe. The ceremony also featured a cake cutting featuring Barfoot and the youngest Soldier in attendance. Read more about the official redesignation ceremony held March 24, 2023, at https://ngpa.us/28986.
Fort Barfoot celebrates one year since redesignation
March 26, 2024
Fort Barfoot leaders and employees along with community representatives celebrated the first anniversary of the redesignation of the installation in honor of Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties March 22, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. 

Staff Sgt. Felicia Taylor
VNG NCO reflects on being a female in the field artillery
March 25, 2024
Part of Staff Sgt. Felicia Taylor’s motivation for joining the Virginia Army National Guard was to prove what she was capable of. Her father didn’t think she could make it through Basic Combat Training, or BCT, and she felt certain he was wrong. Then she looked into the benefits of military service and realized she could serve part-time in the National Guard while still working toward her college and career goals.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group claim top honors at the 2024 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 17, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 116th’s Spc. Carter Cooper was named Soldier of the Year and the 329th’s Sgt. Patrick Bradner was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The 329th’s Spc. Royal Evans and Fort Barfoot’s Sgt. Nicholas Clark were named runners-up. The four-day event included Army Warrior Tasks, a written exam, a physical fitness challenge, an obstacle course, land navigation, a ruck march, a three-gun event and an appearance board. Cooper and Bradner now advance to the Region II Best Warrior Competition, scheduled for May 2024.
116th IBCT’s Cooper, 329th’s Bradner are VaARNG best warriors​
March 22, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group claimed top honors at the 2024 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 14 - 17, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. 

The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosts 11 Army National Guard Soldiers from nine states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course March 5, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
ARNG Soldiers from 9 states, territories conduct funeral honors training in Virginia Beach
March 19, 2024
The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosted 11 Army National Guard Soldiers from nine states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course Feb. 26 to March 8, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans.

Spc. Ricky Wright, second from the right, poses with his twin sister, Faith; father, Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Wright; and his recruiters following his enlistment into the Virginia Army National Guard in June 2023. (Courtesy Photo)
National Guard service opens doors to full-time employment for new 91B
March 19, 2024
When Spc. Ricky Wright joined the Virginia Army National Guard alongside his twin sister, Faith, it opened up a new world of possibilities. For high school, Wright attended Dinwiddie High School, as well as Rowanty Technical Center in Carson, Virginia. At Rowanty, he picked up a plethora of automotive skills, as well as an Automotive Service Excellence certification, while he was there. Given that background, it made sense for Wright to enlist as a 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute conduct an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense Peacekeeping Battalion March 3 - 8, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
RTI instructors conduct infantry tactics exchange in Tajikistan
March 14, 2024
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute conducted an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan March 3 - 8, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Col. Brock E. Lange, left, 192nd Wing commander, passes the 192nd Operations Group guidon to Col. Andrew M. Weidner signifying his assumption of command of the group March 1, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Col. Philip J. Colomy relinquished command of the group to Weidner, previously the 192nd OG deputy commander, during the change of command ceremony. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Johnisa Jackson)
192nd Operations Group promotes deputy commander to group commander
March 12, 2024
The 192nd Operations Group, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony March 1, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.

The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduates 68 cadets during a ceremony March 2, 2024, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined Jennifer D. Lanz, director of CCYA, and Yolanda Parker, a CCYA graduate and the guest speaker for the event, on stage to congratulate the graduates of Class 60. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided the music for the ceremony. Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and is based at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach. ChalleNGe is a 17-and-a-half-month program that is structured in a military-style environment designed to promote academics, attention to detail, time management, and leadership, while promoting self-esteem, confidence and pride. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates Class 60
March 12, 2024
The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 68 cadets during a ceremony March 2, 2024, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined Jennifer D. Lanz, director of CCYA, and Yolanda Parker, a CCYA graduate and the guest speaker for the event, on stage to congratulate the graduates of Class 60.

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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.

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.

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