Ceremony marks 25th anniversary of 203rd RED HORSE plane crash
Va. Army Guard recruiters named best in region
Commonwealth ChalleNGe welcomes Class 64 candidates
Virginia hosts funeral honors training for ARNG Soldiers from 6 states, territories
Spanberger commends VNG during legislative reception

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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

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conduct a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear defense exchange with Finnish forces Feb. 23 - March 7, 2026, in Finland. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland have been formally paired since 2024. Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 229th Chemical Company and the 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, participated in the exchange.
VNG Soldiers, Airmen support Karelian Stone in Finland
March 18, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear defense exchange with Finnish forces Feb. 23 - March 7, 2026, in Finland. 
Soldiers representing the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion and the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team took top honors at the 2026 VaARNG Best Warrior Competition March 15, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Frederick Newton, assigned to VaARNG’s R&R Battalion, was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Javan Cooper, assigned to the 116th MBCT, was named Soldier of the Year. The pair bested their peers over five days of intense competition, testing their stamina, strength, knowledge and skills. Newton and Cooper will go on to represent Virginia at the Region II Best Warrior Competition at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, later this year.
Newton, Cooper tops at VaARNG Best Warrior Competition
March 17, 2026
Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion and the Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team took top honors at the 2026 VaARNG Best Warrior Competition, held March 11 - 15, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Candidates for Class 64 of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy arrive for inproccessing Feb. 4, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Va. CCYA is a 29-and-a-half-month program structured in a military-style environment, designed to promote academics, attention to detail, time management, and leadership, while promoting self-esteem, confidence and pride. The cadets of Class 64 are scheduled to graduate in June 2026. CCYA Class 63 graduated 40 cadets during a ceremony Dec. 18, 2025. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 64 hits the ground running
March 6, 2026
Class 64 of the of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy kicked off Feb. 4, 2026, as 68 candidates arrived for in-processing at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Va. CCYA, the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, is a 29 and a half month program structured in a military-style environment, designed to promote academics, attention to detail, time management, and leadership, while promoting self-esteem, confidence and pride.
The Virginia Air National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, 192nd Wing, conduct a memorial ceremony March 3, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to recognize the 25th anniversary of a plane crash which claimed the lives of 18 VaANG Airmen and three Florida Army National Guard aviators. During the ceremony, former and current 203rd RED HORSE Airmen as well as friends and family members remembered the fallen service members and placed a wreath at the 203rd RED HORSE memorial site at the State Military Reservation. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, attended the ceremony, and Col. Andrew M. Weidner, commander of the 192nd Wing, gave remarks during the ceremony. Cadets from the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy also supported the event.
Ceremony marks 25th anniversary of 203rd RED HORSE plane crash
March 5, 2026
The Virginia Air National Guard’s 203rd RED HORSE Squadron conducted a memorial ceremony March 3, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to recognize the 25th anniversary of a plane crash which claimed the lives of 18 VaANG Airmen and three Florida Army National Guard aviators. 
Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to Detachment 1, 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing conduct a combat medical exchange with members of the Tajikistan armed forces Feb. 2 - 6, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003.
VNG strengthens partnership with Tajikistan through medical exchange
March 5, 2026
Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to Detachment 1, 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing conducted a combat medical exchange with members of the Tajikistan armed forces Feb. 2 - 6, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
State Partnership Program logo
VNG Soldiers, Airmen participate in Finnish cyber security exercise
Feb. 19, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 192nd Wing participated in Elements of Cyber 2026, a Finnish cyber exercise, Feb. 2-6, 2026, in Riihimäki, Finland.
Soldiers with the Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion earned top honors at the Region II Strength Readiness Advisory Group end-of-year boards Jan. 7, 2026. Sgt. 1st Class Morgan Maddox was named the region’s marketing noncommissioned officer of the year, Staff Sgt. Joshua Fino was selected as the regional recruiter of the year (Director’s 54), and Master Sgt. Jason Haynes was named the regional section chief of the year (Expert 7). Staff Sgt. Christopher Weakley was also recognized as Virginia’s rookie of the year.
Va. Army Guard recruiters named best in region
Feb. 19, 2026
The Virginia Army National Guard recruiting team snagged three top honors at the Region II Strength Readiness Advisory Group end-of-year boards Jan. 7, 2026, following a conference of neighboring states in Maryland. Staff Sgt. Joshua Fino was named the regional recruiter of the year, Master Sgt. Jason Haynes was named the regional section chief of the year, and Sgt. 1st Class Morgan Maddox was selected as the region’s marketing noncommissioned officer of the year. 
The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosts 9 Army National Guard Soldiers from six states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course Feb. 5, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin and Wyoming participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Virginia hosts funeral honors training for ARNG Soldiers from 6 states, territories
Feb. 19, 2026
The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosted nine Army National Guard Soldiers from six states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course Jan. 26 - Feb. 5, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger commends the Virginia National Guard during a legislative reception hosted by the Virginia National Guard Association Feb. 5, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala F. Hashmi also gave remarks, as did retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Prior to the reception, Williams addressed VNG leaders as part of the Adjutant General’s Distinguished Speaker Series, and Ring presented Wiliams a shell casing fired by the 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment during Spanberger’s inauguration in January.
Spanberger commends VNG during legislative reception
Feb. 12, 2026
Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and alumni attended a legislative reception hosted by the Virginia National Guard Association Feb. 5, 2026, at the Library of Virginia in Richmond.
A Virginia Air National Guard Airman lays a wreath at the 203rd RED HORSE crash memorial at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the 20th anniversary of the tragic incident.
Ceremony to mark 25th anniversary of 203rd RED HORSE plane crash
Feb. 11, 2026
The Virginia Air National Guard’s 203rd RED HORSE, 192nd Wing, will conduct a memorial ceremony March 3, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to recognize the 25th anniversary of a plane crash which claimed the lives of 18 VaANG Airmen and three Florida Army National Guard aviators. 

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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

QUICK LINKS

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