Pre-WOC Course prepares Soldiers to become VAARNG’s technical experts
192nd Wing welcomes Lange as new commander
Goodwin goes with the flow, reaches top warrant officer rank
Soldier committed to assisting with suicide intervention, prevention
Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish sniper championship
192nd Medical Group completes annual training in San Diego
1173rd conducts real-world transportation mission in Pennsylvania
Virginia Army Guard G4 hosts logistics training workshop

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Brig. Gen. James W. Ring takes command of the Virginia National Guard as the Adjutant General of Virginia from Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams and is promoted to major general during a ceremony June 3, 2023, at the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Lt. Gen. Marc H. Sasseville, the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, presided over the ceremony. Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Ring to serve as the 29th Adjutant General of Virginia and lead the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force. Williams, who has served as the AG since 2014, received commemorative gifts following the change of command ahead of his July 1, 2023, retirement. VNG Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team blank fired the honor salute, the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided ceremonial music and members of the VDF provided traffic support and medical assistance for the event.
Ring takes command of VNG as Adjutant General of Virginia
June 8, 2023
Brig. Gen. James W. Ring took command of the Virginia National Guard as the Adjutant General of Virginia from Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams and was promoted to major general during a ceremony June 3, 2023, at the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, 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

The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 35 Soldiers with tactical trucks capable of high water transportation Sept. 23, 2023, at VNG facilities in the Hampton Roads area in order to support the response to impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia. The personnel are ready to conduct missions and will link up with local emergency managers to provide assistance if needed. VNG troops will also have chain saw teams to conduct debris reduction operations.
VNG staged, ready in Hampton Roads area for possible severe weather response operations
Sept. 23, 2023
The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 35 Soldiers with tactical trucks capable of high water transportation Sept. 23, 2023, at VNG facilities in the Hampton Roads area in order to support the response to impacts of Tropical Storm Ophelia.
Sgt. Ian Gallaugher poses for a photo while deployed to the Horn of Africa with Task Force Red Dragon in 2022. Gallaugher now serves as a behavioral health technician with the Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command at Fort Barfoot.
Soldier committed to assisting fellow troops with suicide intervention, prevention
Sept. 15, 2023
Sgt. Ian Gallaugher is a behavioral health technician with the Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command at Fort Barfoot. When he joined the VNG in 2015 he was looking for a military occupational specialty that supported Soldiers actively serving.
The 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School hosts a Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course Sept. 8-10, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Completion of Pre-WOC is a prerequisite for any Virginia Army National Guard Soldier to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School. At the end of the course, Chief Warrant Officer 5 John D. Calley, the VNG State Command Chief Warrant Officer, presented recognition coins to Sgt. John Gatling in recognition of his leadership skills and Spc. Evan Hahn for scoring the highest on the Army Combat Fitness Test. In addition, Warrant Officer Gisselotte Ventura was voted by her peers as the Training, Advising and Counseling officer of the cycle. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course prepares Soldiers to become VAARNG’s technical experts
Sept. 15, 2023
The 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School hosted a Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course Sept. 8-10, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Completion of Pre-WOC is a pre-requisite for any Virginia Army National Guard Soldier to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School.
Djuana L. Goodwin is promoted to chief warrant officer 5 May 18, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office to Goodwin. Williams was joined by Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff, to pin on the new rank. Goodwin was the first Black woman promoted to warrant officer 1 in the VNG in 2001, and she is the first Black woman to be promoted to chief warrant officer 5. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)
Goodwin goes with the flow, reaches top warrant officer rank
Sept. 14, 2023
This year, Chief Warrant Officer 5 DJuana Goodwin became the first African American woman to ever attain the top warrant officer rank in the Virginia Army National Guard. Over nearly 40 years, she’s gone with the flow, taken care of Soldiers, forged indelible friendships, beaten breast cancer and become a mainstay in the organization.
The Virginia Army National Guard G4 hosts a logistics training workshop Aug. 16, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The purpose of the workshop was to synchronize efforts of the supply personnel and maintainers across the state to improve logistical operations and planning at the company and battalion levels. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole L. Arbogast, senior supply sergeant for the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group, received the Lt. Col. Charles D. Taylor Award for career-long performance that has enhanced the VAARNG logistics community’s capabilities.
Virginia Army Guard G4 hosts logistics training workshop
Sept. 13, 2023
The Virginia Army National Guard G4 hosted a logistics training workshop Aug. 14- 16, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The purpose of the workshop was to synchronize efforts of the supply personnel and maintainers across the state to improve logistical operations and planning at the company and battalion levels, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Rhonda L. Williams, senior enlisted advisor for the Virginia Army National Guard Deputy Chief of Staff G4.
Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, visits VNG Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 1173rd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group July 17, 2023, at Letterkenny Munitions Center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. During the visit, Gallagher talked with Soldiers to learn about their mission and presented his challenge coin to recognize outstanding duty performance. The Soldiers are providing transportation support during their two weeks of annual training.
1173rd conducts real-world transportation mission in Pennsylvania 
Sept. 12, 2023
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 1173rd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a transportation and storage reform mission during their annual training July 9-21, 2023, at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. 
Col. Brock E. Lange takes command of the Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Wing from Col. Christopher G. Batterton during a change of command ceremony Sept. 9, 2023, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Catherine M. Jumper, commander of the Virginia Air National Guard, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Batterton to Lange. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Eugene Silvers)
192nd Wing welcomes Lange as new commander
Sept. 9, 2023
Col. Brock “Magma” Lange took command of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing from Col. Christopher “Skosh” Batterton during a change of command ceremony Sept. 9, 2023, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group participate in Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 23-8.05 July 28, at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Conducted in support of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 529th was in charge of running the division support area, where they provided command and control of more than 400 National Guard Soldiers from five different units from five different states providing food, water, fuel, ammunition and other supplies. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sean Walker)
529th CSSB Soldiers endure heat, gain valuable training during JRTC rotation
Sept. 6, 2023
Approximately 60 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support
The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduates 66 cadets from Class 59 Aug. 26, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments. Daeja Mason, a graduate of Class 48, was the guest speaker. 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 graduates 66 cadets from Class 59
Sept. 6, 2023
The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 66 cadets from Class 59 Aug. 26, 2023, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, in congratulating the cadets on their accomplishments.
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, near Taipalsaari, Finland. Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson, Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson and Sgt. Gavin Asbury made up one of 26 teams to compete in the competition, which focused on the basic skills of a sniper. The event was organized by the Finnish Sniper Guild in cooperation with the Finnish Reserve Sports Association and the National Defense Training Association.
Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish sniper championship
Sept. 5, 2023
Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, near Taipalsaari, Finland. 

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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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