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Updates to VNG social media, website content
March 5, 2025
Content on this platform is being reviewed, removed and archived to align with the President's executive orders and Department of Defense priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17. For any questions regarding social media policies, please refer to “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes” guidance available on the DOD web site at https://vngpao.info/4mj56vjp.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Joyce Reed presents a Governor of Virginia proclamation recognizing the Virginia National Guard’s 418th  birthday to Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, VNG Director of the Joint Staff, after a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond.
Virginia National Guard celebrates 418th birthday
May 21, 2025
The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 418th birthday May 14, 2025, with a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.

VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD NEWS

Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno  as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made June 3, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. A change of command ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 3 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Samulski to succeed DiNonno as 29th Infantry Division commanding general
June 4, 2025
Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Samulski has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno  as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made June 3, 2025, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.

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 assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company say their final goodbyes and load out for their federal active duty mobilization to the U.S. Central Command area of operations May 29, 2025, in Hanover and Richmond, Virginia. Select Soldiers were recognized for outstanding duty performance with battalion challenge coins before they loaded buses and traveled to board the flight to their mobilization station in Texas. Battalion- and state-level leaders were on hand to thank Soldiers for their service and send them off on their mission.
Ceremony marks official start of 229th MP Company mobilization
June 3, 2025
Approximately 150 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company mark the start of their federal active duty mobilization to the U.S. Central Command area of operations with a departure ceremony May 28, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia.

Capt. Joshua McAnnally, the bilateral affairs officer to Tajikistan, explores Tajikistan. McAnnally says his family has adapted well living in Tajikistan. As a BAO, McAnnally manages defense and security cooperation between Virginia and Tajikistan.
Bilateral affairs officers serve as vital connection between VNG, SPP partners
June 2, 2025
As part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, Virginia is paired with both Finland and Tajikistan to engage in a wide array of military activities, ranging from joint training exercises and subject matter expert exchanges to disaster response and humanitarian aid initiatives. Key components of these SPP relationships are the work and dedication of bilateral affairs officers — Virginia National Guard officers who live in Finland and Tajikistan and manage defense and security cooperation between Virginia and the officers’ host countries.

Service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country are honored at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 26, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, retired Maj. Gen. Craig Crenshaw, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, as well as Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, with Chief Master Sgt. John F. Nye, the VNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader, and Spc. Nicholas Warren, the VNG Soldier of the Year, placed memorial wreaths to honor the fallen.
Virginia's fallen remembered at Commonwealth's Memorial Day Ceremony
May 30, 2025
The Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony honored and remembered the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation May 26, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. 

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy cadets conduct a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration for family, friends and Virginia National Guard leadership during Class 62’s Family Day May 17, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Col. Jeff Wagstaff, Senior Army Advisor to the Virginia Army National Guard, retired Col. Everton Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Emily Huffman, the commander of the State Military Reservation, Jen Lanz, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe, and Jerome Ferrette, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe deputy director, were on hand to receive the pass in review. ChalleNGe is a 17-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. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 62 enjoys Family Day
May 27, 2025
Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy staff, cadets and their families enjoyed Class 62’s Family Day May 17, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cadets conducted a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration before enjoying several hours with their families and friends, who were invited to tour the ChalleNGe facilities and meet staff.

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.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Joyce Reed presents a Governor of Virginia proclamation recognizing the Virginia National Guard’s 418th  birthday to Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, VNG Director of the Joint Staff, after a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond.
Virginia National Guard celebrates 418th birthday
May 21, 2025
The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 418th birthday May 14, 2025, with a ceremonial cake cutting at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, 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. 

National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division and civilians with the Army Research Lab collaborate to gather electromagnetic signatures during the division's command post exercise  from April 26 to May 9, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.
29th ID partners with Army researchers to capture electromagnetic signatures
May 15, 2025
National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division took part in a

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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.

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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