116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

The 116th IBCT is authorized approximately 3,500 Soldiers and is the largest major command in the Virginia National Guard. The 116th has units throughout Virginia from Winchester to Pulaski along I-81, from Staunton to Virginia Beach along I-64, from Danville to Lynchburg to Warrenton along Route 29 as well as Fredericksburg, Manassas and Leesburg. An infantry battalion based in Barbourville, Kentucky, is also aligned with the 116th for training and readiness oversight. A brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army and carries with it support units necessary to sustain its operations away from its parent division. The 116th consists of three infantry battalions, a cavalry squadron, a field artillery battalion, a brigade support battalion and brigade engineer battalion.

The Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returned from overseas in 2022, officially ending their mission as Task Force Saint Lo and the mission command headquarters for NATO Kosovo Force Regional Command-East with a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 2, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. NATO KFOR troops conduct peace support operations contributing to a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo while healthy political dialogue continues between Kosovo and Serbia.

As the multi-national brigade assigned to Regional Command - East, Task Force Saint Lo commanded more than 1,000 personnel from 10 different nations to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement throughout Kosovo. The leaders and staff planned and executed three separate named operations to decrease tensions related to Serbian elections, License Plate Reciprocity, and securing energy infrastructure.

The brigade was also responsible for working with the Serbian armed forces to ensure all parties were in compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 and the Military Technical Agreement. The focus of RC-East was to provide the opportunity to resolve tensions in the Balkans through political dialogue focused on normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

They planned and participated in multinational training events with the German contingencies to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Schützenschnur and with the Danish contingencies to participate in the DANCON march. They also hosted the U.S. marksmanship badges for two NATO nations. Senior leaders took part in more than 70 engagements with the Kosovo Police, local mayors and Serbian armed forces. The Civil-Military Cooperation section executed 10 projects valued at more than 70,000 euros.

Read more about Task Force Saint Lo at https://ngpa.us/22642

Approximately 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, ended their mobilization as Task Force Red Dragon during a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 19, 2022, to officially end their security mission for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. They began serving on federal active duty Nov. 27, 2021. 

Task Force Red Dragon provided security forces throughout the Horn of Africa, maintaining a presence in Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya. This defensive mission included 24/7 perimeter security of military installations, to include manning guard towers and vehicle entry control points to constantly safeguard U.S forces, partner forces, and civilian contractors. The task force also provided land-side security for multiple U.S. Navy port calls, enabling refueling and refit operations for U.S. ships operating in the vicinity of the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait. Throughout this base defense mission, the task force effectively integrated their enabler units into the defensive plan by augmenting medical personnel at each site, establishing indirect fire capabilities, and continuously worked to improve their defensive posture.

Additionally, TFRD provided the ground component of the East Africa Response Force, tasked with execution of a broad range of military operations, to include crisis response and security augmentation to Department of State or other U.S. facilities, support for military-assisted departure or non-combatant evacuation operations and other missions as directed. The EARF conducted monthly emergency deployment readiness exercises to ensure readiness and preparation in responding quickly to crises within East Africa. Over the course of the deployment, the EARF supported Department of State missions in Nairobi, Kenya; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Durban, South Africa. The EARF also conducted two emergency deployment readiness exercises to rehearse the reinforcement of contingency support locations in East Africa. 

Read more about TF Red Dragon’s mobilization at https://ngpa.us/21523.

Virginia and Ohio National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 12, 2022, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to officially end their short-range air defense mission for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

While deployed, approximately 330 Soldiers were tasked to provide short-range air defense against unmanned aerial systems and rocket artillery and motor attacks, protecting more than 10,000 coalition forces and critical assets throughout the Central Command area of operations in the Middle East using the Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar System, or C-RAM.

Throughout the deployment, the 1-111th successfully engaged two UAS systems and multiple rockets with kinetic defeat systems and more than two dozen UAS systems with non-kinetic systems. They were also responsible for upgrading and expanding counter UAS operational capabilities. 

Read more about the 1-111th’s mobilization at https://ngpa.us/22853

Visit the 116th IBCT on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/116thIBCT/

 

116th IBCT News

Spc. Emmanuel Olguin, assigned to the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, competes at the 2025 Lincoln, Nebraska, Marathon May 4, 2025, for a spot on the All-Guard Competition Team. Olguin ran a 2:59:57 to earn a spot on the team. He will now spend the next two years racing in numerous events, ranging from 5Ks to full marathons, with the All-Guard Competition Team. The Virginia National Guard Endurance Team is currently training and getting ready for the All-Guard Endurance Trials in FY26.
VNG Endurance Team Soldiers compete at All-Guard Marathon Trials
June 3, 2025
Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard Endurance Team competed in the All-Guard Marathon Trials May 4, 2025, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Lincoln Marathon, for an opportunity to earn a spot on the All-Guard Competition Team.  

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen compete in the Virginia National Guard’s annual marksmanship match, hosted May 16-18, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Dozens of shooters participated in the event, which was hosted by the Marksmanship Training Unit, part of the Fort Barfoot-based 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. Over the course of three days, shooters engaged targets from a variety of distances and shooting positions, firing rifles and pistols.
VNG hosts combined arms marksmanship match
May 27, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took top honors at the 2025 Virginia National Guard Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Match, held May 16 - 18, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group and the Lynchburg-based Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team made a strong showing at the Region II Best Warrior Competition May 5 - 9, 2025, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Spc. Nicholas Warren and Staff Sgt. Ivo Garner, the VaARNG Soldier and NCO of the Year, both placed second in their respective categories, competing against other Soldiers and NCOs from the region, including Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
VNG Soldiers impress at Regional Best Warrior Competition
May 19, 2025
Spc. Nicholas Warren and Staff Sgt. Ivo Garner, the VaARNG Soldier and NCO of the Year, both placed second in their respective categories, competing against other Soldiers and NCOs from the region, including Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conduct a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 21 - 25, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003. The exchange focused on developing and refining mountain warfare fundamentals, while fostering collaboration between U.S. and Tajik forces. A total of 25 Tajik participants, representing four different organizations of the nation’s defense forces, took part in the training. Ranks ranged from junior officers to senior lieutenant colonels.
VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan
May 5, 2025
Three Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 21 - 25, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003.

Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conduct a close-quarters battle exchange with members of the Tajik military April 7 - 11, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, which has connected Virginia and Tajikistan since 2003.
VNG Soldiers conduct close-quarters battle exchange in Tajikistan
April 22, 2025
Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a close-quarters battle exchange with members of the Tajik military April 7 - 11, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

116th IBCT Organization

Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
https://www.facebook.com/116thIBCT/
@116thIBCT

Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team https://www.facebook.com/1stBattalion116thInfantry/

  • Bedford-based Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
    • Farmville-based Detachment 1, Alpha Company
  • Lexington-based Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
  • Christiansburg-based Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
  • Pulaski-based Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
    • Martinsville-base Detachment 1, Delta Company
  • Lynchburg-based Golf Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion

Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team https://www.facebook.com/2nd183rdCav/

  • Virginia Beach-based Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment
  • Suffolk-based Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment
  • Virginia Beach-based Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment
  • Virginia Beach-based Delta Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion
    • Portsmouth-based Detachment 1, Delta Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion

Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team https://www.facebook.com/3rdBattalion116thInfantry/

  • Charlottesville-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
    • Harrisonburg-based Detachment 1, Alpha Company
  • Woodstock-based Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
  • Leesburg-based Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
  • Warrenton-based Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment
  • Winchester-based Hotel Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion

Norfok-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team https://www.facebook.com/1stBattalion111thFieldArtillery/

  • Hanover-based Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment
  • Norfolk-based Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment
  • Hampton-based Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment
  • Norfolk-based Foxtrot Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion

Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

https://www.facebook.com/229thBEB/

  • Fredericksburg-based Alpha Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • Bowling Green-based Bravo Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • Fredericksburg-based Charlie Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • Manassas-based Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • Fredericksburg-based Echo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion

Danville-based 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

https://www.facebook.com/429thBSB/

  • South Boston-based Alpha Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion
  • Richmond-based Bravo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion
  • Charlottesville-based Charlie Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion