Virginia Army National Guard is now offering $20,000 sign-on bonuses for those who enlist into an expanded number of military occupational specialties. Previously, just one MOS qualified for the top-tier $20,000 bonus, while two additional jobs offered smaller bonus amounts. Now, Soldiers who enlist into one of seven career fields may be eligible for the $20,000 bonus.

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.

RICHMOND, Va. – Starting in October, the Army Combat Fitness Test becomes the U.S. Army’s official physical fitness test of record for certain Soldiers. It’s a big change from the Army Physical Fitness Test so we rounded up some of the most-asked questions concerning the ACFT and took them to the experts, Capt. Brian Harder, a physical therapist in the Virginia National Guard and the regional Holistic Health and Fitness lead, and Master Sgt. Ramon Abreu-Perez, the Virginia National Guard’s Holistic Health and Fitness project officer and Master Fitness Trainer coordinator.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to units across the state attended an annual retirement briefing Sept. 10, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The training was conducted by the Virginia Army National Guard G1 Personnel Directorate Retirement Services Office, led by Tanisha Roberts. 

Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as Task Force Red Dragon, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 19, 2022, to officially end their security mission for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, known as Task Force Wolfhound, assumed responsibility for the mission. Approximately 1,000 Soldiers from across Virginia and Kentucky began serving on federal active duty on Nov. 27, 2021. With their mission complete, they will return to Virginia and Kentucky in the coming weeks.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to units across the Commonwealth made a strong showing at the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region II match, with VNG teams taking second and third place overall at the competition Aug. 26 - 28, 2022, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. 

New Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees completed the DMA New Employee Orientation Course Sept. 8, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

The Virginia National Guard is offering up to $750 to Virginia citizens who help grow the force with qualified leads who successfully enlist into the Virginia Army or Air National Guard. The initiative, called the Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, kicks off Sept. 15, 2022.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Richmond-based Bravo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided support to Saber Junction 22 Sept. 3-17, 2022, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.   

The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 70 cadets from Class 57 Aug. 27, 2022, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group supported Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center with road and facility maintenance during their annual training August 4-20, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

More than 110 Virginia Army National Guard logisticians from across the state attended a two-day Virginia Army National Guard logistician training workshop Aug. 29-31, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The workshop allowed for logisticians from various disciplines to receive instruction from subject matter experts in a face-to-face environment.