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.

Col. Rusty McGuire took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade from Brig. Gen. Teri Williams May 14, 2022, in Bowling Green, Virginia.

The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 415th birthday May 13, 2022, with a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team participated in a Joint Hazard Assessment Team training exercise with members of the Maine National Guard’s 11th CST, the FBI, the Virginia Beach Fire Department and the Virginia Beach Police Department April 25- 29, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  

U.S. Army helicopter repairers and maintainers play a critical role in keeping aviation assets flying through routine upkeep and conducting on-the-spot repairs, keeping helicopters safe and ready to fly in hundreds of Army missions.

The Virginia National Guard Youth Program is back with "Camp On The Move!" this summer, a series of single day, camp-style events at different 4-H Center locations across the state. The camps, which will take place in Front Royal, Appomattox and Williamsburg, will offer National Guard Youth the opportunity to build resiliency and connect with their peers while engaging in activities such as canoeing, high rope and low rope courses, archery and so much more.  

Approximately 70 cadets, all enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program,  came together to hone their military skills during a multi-day field training exercise held April 22-24, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Robert Mosier, the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Eric Moeller, the Virginia Chief Transformation Officer, along with representatives from Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office and the Virginia Congressional Delegation, visited the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility April 21, 2022, in Sandston, Virginia. 

Ever since he was a kid, Staff Sgt. Shane Williams knew he’d join the military. On his dad’s side, military service dates back all the way to the American Civil War. Since then, his family has served through every major U.S. conflict, excluding the Korean War, and almost everyone served in the U.S. Army. His grandfather was the only exception.

Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Jonathan Murray, deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, is the medical evacuations, or MEDEVAC, operations officer for Kosovo Force Regional Command- East and is living his dream of flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Firefighters assigned to the Fort Pickett Fire Department helped tackle a large fire near the installation April 21, 2022, marking one of the department’s largest response operations in recent memory.