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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 tests new mobile brigade combat team organization during XCTC rotation
July 11, 2025
The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate an approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

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 NEWS

Brothers 2nd Lt. Luke Hart, at left, and Will Hart, post together June 18, 2025, follow Will's enlistment into the Virginia Army National Guard at the Fort Lee Military Entrance Processing Station. Luke commissioned in May and was able to administer the oath of enlistment to his younger brother, who is currently attending The Citadel. (Courtesy Photo)
Hart family celebrates VNG enlistment with brother-led oath
July 15, 2025
When Will Hart raised his right hand to enlist into the Virginia Army National Guard, it was his older brother, 2nd Lt. Luke Hart, who stood across from him and administered the oath of enlistment. For the Hart brothers, service in the Virginia Army National Guard is now a shared commitment.

Col. Arthur S. Moore takes charge as the new commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Jared D. Lake June 24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Lake to Moore. Command Sgt. Maj. Latane I. Gilliam, the 116th senior enlisted leader, was keeper of the colors for the ceremony. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided music for the event.
Moore takes command of 116th IBCT
July 14, 2025
Col. Arthur S. Moore took charge as the new commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Jared D. Lake June 24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Master Sgt. John Nye, the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader meet with Manuel Micaller Jr., the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, during a key leader engagement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in support of the State Partnership Program.
TAG, CSEL conduct key leader engagements in Tajikistan
July 14, 2025
Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Master Sgt. John Nye, the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader, conducted key leader engagements with senior Tajikistan officials June 23 and 24, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 

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 tests new mobile brigade combat team organization during XCTC rotation
July 11, 2025
The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate an approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

A B-25D Mitchell Bomber, similar to the one Sgt. Peter Dennis was in when it was shot down over the Pacific in World War II.
111th FA Soldier among VNG's World War II missing in action
July 7, 2025
Henrico County resident Tech. Sgt. Joshua B. Swanner, originally part of the 111th Field Artillery, was shot down in a B-24 over Indonesian waters in May 1944 during Woirld War II.

Retired Army Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and Lt. Col. Emily Huffman, commander of the State Military Reservation, present awards to DMA state employees during a recognition luncheon June 16, 2025, at SMR in Virginia Beach, Virginia. During the event, Nevers and Huffman thanked SMR’s state employees for their hard work and dedication, and presented agency-wide awards and service anniversary recognitions. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
DMA state employees honored at SMR
July 1, 2025
Retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and Lt. Col. Emily Huffman, the State Military Reservation commander, recognized DMA state employees and thanked them for their service during a luncheon June 16, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presents a plaque to Finnish Lt. Col. Kai Uitto, commander of the Jaeger Battalion, May 29, 2025, in Finland. The plaque recognized the battalion’s partnership throughout the Karelian Sword Exercise.
29th ID participates in Finland's Exercise Karelian Sword
July 1, 2025
Approximately 20 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division participated in exercise Karelian Sword, a large-scale, multi-national military exercise, May 23 - 30, 2025, in the Kymenlaakso region of Finland. 

Thirty cadets graduate from Class 62 of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy June 14, 2025, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Col. Jeff Wagstaff, Senior Army Advisor to the Virginia Army National Guard, retired Col. Everton Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, Jen Lanz, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe, and Jerome Ferrette, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe deputy director, congratulated each of the graduates on completing the five-and-a-half month long residential portion of the program. U.S. Fleet Forces Band Brass Quintet provided 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 30 cadets from Class 62
June 30, 2025
Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 30 cadets from Class 62 June 14, 2025, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a staff officer exchange with members of the Tajikistan Armed Forces June 9 - 13, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003. The VNG team was comprised of members from the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regiment Support Group and Joint Force Headquarters, Richmond.
VNG conducts military decision making process exchange in Tajikistan
June 24, 2025
Five Virginia National Guard members conducted a staff officer exchange with members of the Tajikistan Armed Forces June 9 - 13, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003.

Col. Seung Lee, Virginia National Guard state chaplain, and Maj. Will Cochrane, the VNG deputy full-time support chaplain, present certificates of appreciation and state chaplain coins to six members of the Virginia Defense Force Chaplain Corps June 7, 2025, at Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia. The certificates and coins were presented to VDF chaplains and religious affairs specialists in recognition of their willingness to conduct weekly chapel services at Fort Pickett’s Bulla Chapel during the 2024 annual training season. The Virginia Defense Force is authorized by Section 44-54.4 of the Code of Virginia as the all-volunteer reserve of the Virginia National Guard, and the VDF serves as a force multiplier integrated into all VNG domestic operations.
VNG chaplain leadership recognizes VDF chaplains for their support
June 23, 2025
Col. Seung Lee, Virginia Army National Guard state chaplain, and Maj. Will Cochrane, the VNG deputy full-time support chaplain, presented certificates of appreciation and state chaplain coins to six members of the Virginia Defense Force Chaplain Corps June 7, 2025, at Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia.

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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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