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Brig. Gen. Charles Martin Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley, the Virginia Army National Guard command team, lead the marching formation of the parade at the inauguration of Abigail Spanberger as the 75th Governor of Virginia Jan. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. The formation consisted personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Air National Guard and a joint color guard featuring the U.S. and Virginia flags and the organizational colors of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Virginia Defense Force. VNG personnel also presented a historical color guard in Revolutionary War-style uniforms to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence. Read more at https://vngpao.info/ye2dnfbh.
VNG supports 75th Virginia Gubernatorial Inauguration
Jan. 17, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen supported the inauguration of Abigail Spanberger as the 75th Governor of Virginia Jan. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. VNG personnel conducted a variety of missions including a blank-fire artillery salute, playing ceremonial music and conducting a flyover with F-22 fighter jets. A formation of Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen also led the inaugural parade.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact training lane June 17, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation.
116th IBCT officially converted to mobile brigade combat team
Oct. 17, 2025
​​​​​​​The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was officially converted to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team effective Oct. 16, 2025, by the Army Structure Memorandum, commonly referred to as the ARSTRUC.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Six North Carolina Army National Guard and two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers train on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program July 16, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Military Funeral Honors Level 1 training is a five-day course which prepares Soldiers to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition. The Virginia National Guard MFH Program hosts several training courses throughout the year for National Guard Soldiers from around the country. Since it was begun in January 2007, the Virginia program has performed more than 26,000 funeral services throughout the Commonwealth and averages 150 services each month. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
N.C., Va. Soldiers train on military funeral honors basics in Virginia Beach
July 24, 2026
Six North Carolina Army National Guard and two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers trained on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program July 13-17, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 1033rd Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group support a multi-national exercise in Mongolia during the unit’s annual training. Khaan Quest 2026 concluded July 3, 2026, with a closing ceremony at the Five Hills Training Area near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Asian nation has hosted the peacekeeping operations exercise annually since 2003, co-sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command.
1033rd ESC supports exercise Khaan Quest in Mongolia
July 22, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Cedar Bluff-based 1033rd Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group supported a multi-national exercise in Mongolia during the unit’s annual training. 
Fort Pickett Fire and Emergency Services personnel, as well as personnel from several other garrison directorates and state and local partner agencies combine forces to execute complex, high-risk rescue operations after several paratroopers became stuck in trees July 10, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
Fort Pickett, partner agencies conduct high-risk rescues
July 16, 2026
Fort Pickett Fire and Emergency Services personnel, as well as personnel from several other garrison directorates and state and local partner agencies combined forces to execute complex, high-risk rescue operations after several paratroopers became stuck in trees July 10, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team participate in collective lanes training June 23, 2026, at the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Creeds Law Enforcement Training Facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The 34th CST supports first responders during potential hazardous materials incidents involving possible chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threats and can identify unknown substances, assess current and projected consequences, advise an incident commander on response measures and assist with requests for additional state support. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
34th CST conducts collective training in Virginia Beach
July 16, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team participated in a collective training event June 23, 2026, at the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Creeds Law Enforcement Training Facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and June 25, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Brig. Gen. Dennis Rohler takes the reins as the Virginia National Guard’s Land Component Commander from Brig. Gen. Charles Martin Jr. during a ceremony July 11, 2026, at the VNG Sergeant John Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Martin, who is retiring after 32 years of VNG service, to Rohler. The 29th Infantry Division band provided ceremonial music for the event.
Rohler promoted, takes command of Virginia Army National Guard 
July 13, 2026
Brig. Gen. Dennis Rohler took the reins as the Virginia National Guard’s Land Component Commander during a ceremony July 11, 2026, at the VNG Sergeant John Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduates 40 cadets during a ceremony for Class 64 July 2, 2026, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton Nevers, Virginia Department of Military Affairs chief of staff, Jen Lanz, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe, and Jerome Ferrette, the CCYA deputy director, congratulated each of the graduates on completing the five-and-a-half month-long residential portion of the program. Retired Army Col. Angelo Riddick was the guest speaker for the event and the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band provided music for the ceremony. Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. ChalleNGe is a 17-and-a-half-month program that is structured in a military-style environment 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)
ChalleNGe Class 64 graduates 40 cadets
July 13, 2026
The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 40 cadets during a ceremony for Class 64 July 2, 2026, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton Nevers, Virginia Department of Military Affairs chief of staff, Jen Lanz, director of CCYA, and Jerome Ferrette, the CCYA deputy director, congratulated each of the graduates on completing the five-and-a-half month-long residential portion of the program.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group reunite with family and loved ones July 9, 2026, in Powhatan, Virginia, following their nine-month mobilization. The 180th deployed in September 2025 to provide engineer support to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. Their return to Virginia followed a week-long demobilization at Fort Bliss, Texas, where they were welcomed back to the U.S. by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley, the Virginia Army National Guard senior enlisted leader, and other VNG leaders. Read more about the 180th’s mobilization at https://vngpao.info/mr2yzs4b.
180th ESC returns to Virginia after mobilization to Horn of Africa
July 9, 2026
Approximately 120 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, returned home from their federal mobilization July 9, 2026, after completing their mission with Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.
The Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group was named the most outstanding engineer company in the Army National Guard by the Society of American Engineers during a ceremony May 21, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. The honor, called the Itschner Award, honors the top Army engineer company each from the Guard, Reserve and Active Duty components. The award was announced during SAME’s 2026 Society Ball and Awards Gala.
180th ESC named top Army National Guard engineer company
July 8, 2026
The Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group was named the most outstanding engineer company in the Army National Guard by the Society of American Engineers during a ceremony May 21, 2026, in Portland, Oregon. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team conduct force-on-force and live-fire operations June 15, 2026, during a training rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to participate in a JRTC rotation as a mobile brigade combat team after formally making the transformation from an infantry brigade combat team in 2025. JRTC provides U.S. military units and personnel with complex and realistic combat training, including joint and combined-arms operations, force-on-force scenarios and live-fire exercises.
116th MBCT completes historic JRTC rotation
July 8, 2026
The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team became the first Army National Guard MBCT to test its capabilities at a historic Joint Readiness Training Center rotation May 31 - July 1, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in a command post training exercise at the Finnish Army Academy June 7-12, 2026, in Lappeenranta, Finland. The exchange was conducted in support of the State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland have been formal partners since 2024. The Virginia team, consisting of leaders from the Virginia Army National Guard’s recruiting and Retention Battalion and the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, participated along approximately 150 Finnish Army cadets in the command post exercise, helping strengthen allied readiness and deepen bilateral defense ties.
VNG supports command post exercise in Finland
June 24, 2026
Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in a command post training exercise at the Finnish Army Academy June 7-12, 2026, in Lappeenranta, 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.

J9 Resiliency Directorate Financial Assistance Information

A consolidated list of resources available to assist during periods of financial hardship or government disruption.

Click HERE to download this information as a PDF

Virginia National Guard Family Programs
24 Hour Emergency Hotline: 434-480-6585

SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION & RESPONSE

  • Virginia National Guard Reporting sexual assault line - 434-294-4669
  • DoD Safe Helpline - 877-995-5247/ 202-470-5546 (Oconus)

RESILIENCY RESOURCES

The Virginia National Guard J9 Directorate of Resiliency brings together Soldier-care efforts under one umbrella and includes: 

  • the Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce
  • Family Programs
  • Resilience, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention
  • Religious Support
  • the State Equal Employment Manager
  • the Sexual Assault Response Workforce

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