Approximately 30 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen wrapped up ground support to firefighting efforts Nov. 17, 2023, in Madison County, Virginia, after assisting the Virginia Department of Forestry with mop up operations at the Quaker Run Fire. VNG aviation crews who previously supported the fire in Madison County ended their aerial fire suppression support Nov. 11 after assisting in Patrick County.

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.

Three Virginia Army National Guard recruiters were named top in the region following a meeting of Region II’s Strength Maintenance Advisory Group, or SMAG, Nov. 16, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Sgt. 1st Class David Sanford was named the region’s top recruiting noncommissioned officer, 1st Sgt. Thomas Clarke was named the region’s top section chief, and Staff Sgt. Tyler Voogd was named the top rookie recruiter for 2023.

Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to honor the unit’s history and enjoy an evening of camaraderie at the 55th annual 116th Infantry Regiment Muster Nov. 11, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Congressman Ben Cline and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, both delivered remarks and Col. Jared Lake, commander of the 116th IBCT, provided an update on the brigade’s activities over the last year.


Approximately 30 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen wrapped up ground support to firefighting efforts Nov. 17, 2023, in Madison County, Virginia, after assisting the Virginia Department of Forestry with mop up operations at the Quaker Run Fire. VNG aviation crews who previously supported the fire in Madison County ended their aerial fire suppression support Nov. 11 after assisting in Patrick County.

Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing, trained on their expeditionary skills during a field training exercise Nov. 2-5, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

First Lt. Gavin Steel traces his Native American heritage through the bloodlines of both his maternal and paternal grandmothers. His maternal grandmother comes from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, located today in Western North Carolina. On the paternal side, his grandmother comes from the Coharie Indian Tribe, today located in the southeastern region of North Carolina.

The Virginia National Guard deployed ground crews to support containment efforts at the Quaker Run Fire in Madison County, Virginia, Nov. 15, 2023, after demobilizing the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters providing aerial fire suppression support to the Virginia Department of Forestry Nov. 11, 2023. 

The Virginia War Memorial Veterans Day Ceremony honored those who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces Nov. 10, 2023, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, delivered remarks during the ceremony. Sgt. 1st Class Tramel C. Hines, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to Joint Force Headquarters, led the pledge of allegiance. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music for the event. In addition, members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to provide access control assistance.

Above a forest aglow with fall’s foliage, the blades of Virginia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters sliced through the air. Below, first responders from Chesterfield County and Wintergreen looked skyward as rescuers, simulated victims and an emergency litter were hoisted to and from the aircraft as part of a training event focused on cliff and mountain rescue. The training, which took place Oct. 25, 2023, at Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Virginia, was the most recent training opportunity for Virginia’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART, a team comprised of Virginia National Guard flight crews and personnel from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team. 

Virginia Department of Military Affairs employee Mike Alder began a new role as deputy to the garrison commander of Fort Barfoot Nov. 10, 2023. He previously served as the deputy director of the installation’s Directorate of Public Works.

Col. Charles B. Martin Jr. will succeed Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher as the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General - Army according to an announcement made Nov. 6, 2023, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.