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.

​​​​​​​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.

In the early morning hours of June 6, 2026, the 29th Infantry Division’s blue-and-gray emblem was etched into the sand in the Dog Green Sector of Omaha Beach, marking the ground where the division came ashore 82 years earlier. The tide was out, the morning quiet. As the sun began to rise, 30 U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division fell into formation near the emblem. Around them stood senior military leaders, historical reenactors, French citizens and travelers from around the world, all gathered to honor the Bedford Boys.

Two F-22 Raptors from the Virginia Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Squadron touched down at Ebbing Air National Guard Base June 16 for a joint-training exercise with Finnish Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group returned to the United States June 13, 2026, following their federal active duty deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. 

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Counterdrug Task Force recently supported a multi-agency law enforcement initiative resulting in arrests and drug and weapon seizures in the Roanoke, Virginia, area. 

Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers participated in the 82nd D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2026, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. The event also marked the 25th anniversary of the memorial’s existence. 

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted an urban patrolling operations exchange with members of the Tajik military in May both in Tajikistan and at Fort Pickett.

The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team are testing their combat readiness during a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation May 31 - July 1, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. 

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Col. Eric Quinn, Fort Pickett garrison commander, and retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, presented awards to DMA workers during a state employee recognition luncheon May 28, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 2-245th Aviation Regiment, conducted a departure ceremony and officially began their federal active duty May 27, 2026, in Chesterfield, Virginia.

Virginia’s senior leaders honor service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country at the Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony May 25, 2026, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Abigail Spanberger and First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, and retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and his wife Cheryl Williams, placed memorial wreaths to honor the fallen.