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Col. Van T. Barfoot, during his Medal of Honor ceremony (left) and as a colonel (right). The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett will officially be redesignated Fort Barfoot after the World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties. The ceremony is scheduled for March 24, 2023, in the Fort Pickett area near Blackstone, Virginia.
Va. National Guard training center to be redesignated Fort Barfoot
Feb. 14, 2023
The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett will officially be redesignated Fort Barfoot in honor of Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties. The ceremony is scheduled for March 24, 2023, in the Fort Pickett area near Blackstone, Virginia.

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

Maj. Kim D. Wynn takes command of the Virginia Army National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based Recruiting and Retention Battalion from Lt. Col. Scott A. Nivens during a ceremony March 3, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Nivens to Wynn. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
Wynn steps into new role at R&R, stresses fairness, dignity and respect
March 21, 2023
What first drew Maj. Kim Wynn to military service was the Army uniform of the 1980s and 90s. Catchy “Be All You Can Be” ads were filling the commercial breaks of her TV time, and she thought the Battle Dress Uniform, or BDU, looked pretty good. There was just something about it that she was attracted to and when she started attending Petersburg High School, she participated in Junior ROTC, and then, when she got to Virginia Tech, she decided to join the Virginia Army National Guard.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claim top honors at the 2023 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 329th’s Spc. Jared Bergman won Soldier of the Year, while MTC’s Staff Sgt. Dan Abbott was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Pfc. Mercer Love and Staff Sgt. Jake Harvey, both assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, were named runners-up. Warrant Officers Saidamir Isramov and Khamza Sharifov, soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan participating in the BWC in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, and their interpreter Khurshed Zakharov were also recognized during the awards ceremony. The four-day event included a swim event, 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. Bergman and Abbott will represent the VNG at the regional-level competition later in 2023. Read more about SPP at https://ngpa.us/24494.
Bergman, Abbott take top honors at 2023 Best Warrior Competition
March 21, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett took top honors at the Virginia Army National Guard’s 2023 Best Warrior Competition, held March 16 - 19, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG conducts Tactical Combat Care exchange in Tajikistan
March 20, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.

Ten National Guard Soldiers from seven states participate in Military Funeral Honors Level 2 training March 3, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia participated in the two week-long course, hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program.
Virginia Guard Funeral Honors Program hosts Soldiers from 7 states for training
March 20, 2023
Ten National Guard Soldiers from seven states participated in Military Funeral Honors Level 2 training Feb. 26- March 11, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia participated in the two-week course, hosted by the Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program.

Official Portrait of Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich, Virginia State Command Chief. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Bryan Myhr)
Reich named as new VNG command senior enlisted leader
March 15, 2023
Chief Master Sergeant Kelly B. Reich will succeed Chief Master Sgt. James J. Profita as the Virginia National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader, according to an announcement March 14, 2023, by the Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Reich was serving as the acting CSEL following Profita’s retirement in September 2022 and was selected as the permanent replacement with an effective date of March 14.

The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy Class 58 graduates 72 cadets March 4, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, joined Travis May, the guest speaker for the ceremony, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided music for the event. Commonwealth ChalleNGe is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, a 17-and-a-half-month program 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 Class 58 graduates 72 cadets
March 8, 2023
The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 58 March 4, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, joined Travis May, the guest speaker for the ceremony, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments.  

Col. Jared D. Lake and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane D. Wolfe take charge as the new command team for the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presided over the ceremony where Lake took command of the 116th from Samulski and Wolfe assumed responsibility from Reed as the brigade senior enlisted leader. The Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided music for the event. Read more about the 116th IBCT on va.ng.mil at https://ngpa.us/24351. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)
116th IBCT welcomes new command team
March 7, 2023
Col. Jared D. Lake and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane D. Wolfe took charge as the new command team for the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presided over the ceremony where Lake took command of the 116th from Samulski and Wolfe assumed responsibility from Reed as the brigade’s senior enlisted leader.

Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
VNG Soldiers conduct infantry exchange in Tajikistan
March 7, 2023
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson graduates Ranger School as the enlisted honor graduate during a ceremony held jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dawson is assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as a sniper team leader and completed Ranger School immediately following his deployment to the Horn of Africa as a sniper team leader. (Courtesy photo)
1-116th NCO top enlisted graduate at Ranger School​
March 7, 2023
After months of grueling effort, Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson, a sniper team leader in the Virginia Army National Guard, completed Ranger School, earned the coveted Ranger Tab and was named the enlisted honor graduate for his Ranger School course. Dawson started Ranger School with 328 other Soldiers, graduated as one of 71 to avoid a recycle and was one of only three National Guard Soldiers to graduate with his class of 125 total graduates. Dawson’s father, who earned his own tab in 1990, was there to congratulate his son and pin his tab Jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presents the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia, to recognize their federal active duty in Kosovo. Soldiers returned to Virginia in November 2022 after serving as the mission command headquarters for NATO Kosovo Force Regional Command-East since March 2022. As the multi-national brigade assigned to RC - East, the 116th commanded more than 1,000 personnel from 10 different nations to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement throughout Kosovo. Delegates David Reid and Ellen Campbell were also on hand to thank Soldiers for their service. Read more about their mission on va.ng.mil at https://ngpa.us/24352. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)
116th IBCT Headquarters recognized for federal active duty in Kosovo
March 7, 2023
Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia, to recognize their federal active duty in Kosovo. Delegates David Reid and Ellen Campbell were also on hand to thank Soldiers for their service.

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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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