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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

Maj. Paul Marcinko and Sgt. Maj. Lawrence McGrogan case the colors of the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, during the squadron’s inactivation ceremony Aug. 13, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The casing of the colors marked the formal conclusion of the squadron’s service as generations of troopers gathered to honor its history, traditions and esprit de corps. The squadron’s inactivation is part of the ongoing Army Transformation Initiative. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
2-183rd Cavalry cases colors after more than two decades of service
Aug. 21, 2026
More than 20 years after they were first unfurled, the colors of 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team were cased in a ceremony held Aug. 13, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The ceremony marked the inactivation of the unit, which traces its lineage back through more than two centuries of Virginia military service.
A U.S. Marine and member of the Virginia Defense Force simulate the process they would follow to respond to and mitigate a cyber attack Aug. 5, 2026, during Cyber Fortress 26 at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hosted by the Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade, Cyber Fortress is one of the nation's premier military exercises focused on a whole-of-government response to significant cyber threats impacting critical infrastructure and key resources, and the only Army National Guard cyberspace operations exercise that includes capability certification or re-certification. This year’s exercise scenario focused on hydroelectricity and brought together Active, Reserve, and National Guard components of the U.S. military and NATO partners, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies and civilian partners from private industry. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Cyber Fortress 26 tests military, civilian experts on domestic cyber-attack scenarios
Aug. 20, 2026
The Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade hosted Cyber Fortress 26, a joint, interagency, intergovernmental multinational exercise, July 25- Aug. 8, 2026, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach.
Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the 20th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, administers the oath of enlistment to current and incoming Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen during a ceremony before the NASCAR Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway Aug. 15, 2026, in Henrico, Virginia. Prior to the enlistment and reenlistment ceremonies, Nordhaus and Command Sgt. Maj. James B. Kendrick, the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, plus Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Chief Master Sgt. John F. Nye, the Virginia National Guard’s senior enlisted leader, visited with Virginia Army and Air National Guard recruiters set up at the track. Nordhaus rode in the official pace car at the start of the race, and the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band performed the national anthem.
Nordhaus visits VNG, leads enlistment, reenlistment oaths
Aug. 19, 2026
Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited Virginia National Guard facilities and administered the oath of enlistment to new and current VNG Soldiers and Airmen during a visit Aug. 15, 2026, to the Richmond, Virginia, area. 
Lt. Col. Joshua L. Favaro and Command Sgt. Maj. Donald W. Spring Jr., command team for the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, case the unit’s colors signifying the battalion’s deactivation Aug. 8, 2026, at the Mason-Ruhren Readiness Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Col. Art Moore, commander of the Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, presided over the ceremony, which featured remarks from multiple former Endurance Battalion unit leaders. The 229th BEB’s deactivation is part of the 116th’s transformation from an infantry brigade combat team to a MBCT, part of the Army’s Transformation in Contact 2.0 modernization strategy.
229th BEB cases colors, leaves legacy of engineering excellence
Aug. 13, 2026
After more than 40 years in existence, the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion cased its colors Aug. 8, 2026, during a deactivation ceremony at the Mason-Ruhren Readiness Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. 
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Ring announces new senior leader assignments 
Aug. 13, 2026
Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced new Virginia National Guard senior leader assignments in an announcement Aug. 12, 2026, in Richmond, Virginia. 
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.

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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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