Fort Pickett


By order of the Secretary of Defense, the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Barfoot military installation near Blackstone, Virginia, has been renamed as Fort Pickett, effective June 11, 2025, to honor 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett for his extraordinary heroism during World War II.

While pinned down by enemy machine gun fire, Pickett crawled forward and destroyed two enemy positions with grenades. After being captured, he escaped from a transport train with fellow prisoners of war and rejoined his unit before being killed in action. For his heroic actions, Pickett received the Distinguished Service Cross.

The installation was redesignated March 24, 2023, to honor Col. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient with extensive Virginia ties.

Located near Blackstone, Fort Pickett has more than 225 full-time state and federal employees provide support to tenant and training units on approximately 41,000 acres featuring a combination of open and wooded terrain maneuver areas and 21 ranges capable of supporting almost any weapons system in the U.S. Army inventory with barracks to support more than 5,000 personnel as well as an Army airfield operation.

Fort Pickett News

Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Col. Eric L. Quinn, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, recognize and thank Department of Military Affairs employees during an employee appreciation luncheon Dec. 16, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Hubbard and Quinn gave remarks during the event, thanking the DMA workers for their hard work during 2025. Employees celebrating milestone employment anniversaries were recognized, as was the team responsible for organizing and decorating the holiday season event. Read more about DMA at https://vngpao.info/3xfv3msy.
Senior leaders recognize DMA state employees during luncheon
Dec. 17, 2025
Brig. Gen. Todd H. Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Col. Eric L. Quinn, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, recognized and thanked Department of Military Affairs employees during an employee appreciation luncheon Dec. 16, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, move through a scout selection assessment Nov. 15, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, as they compete for positions within the battalion's scout platoon. Candidates completed physical and technical tasks ranging from the Air Assault Obstacle Course and ruck march to weapons, communications and medical skill lanes during the multi-day evaluation.
Red Dragon Soldiers compete for scout platoon selection
Nov. 18, 2025
Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team spent the week ending Nov. 16, 2025, pushing their limits during a demanding Scout Selection Board designed to identify the battalion’s next generation of reconnaissance leaders.
Fort Barfoot hosts runners and walkers for the installation’s second annual 5K Turkey Trot Nov. 27, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Runners included Virginia National Guard Soldiers and family members, as well as Fort Barfoot civilian employees and members of the local community. Col. James C. Shaver Jr., the Fort Barfoot garrison commander, provided opening remarks before the race. Holden Wells and Katie Martin had the fastest finishing times and were recognized after the race.
Registration open for 2025 Fort Pickett 5K Turkey Trot
Nov. 14, 2025
Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett will host its annual 5K Turkey Trot Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, one day ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday. 
The Fort Pickett-based Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command hosts combat medics from across the state for 68W sustainment training Oct. 20-24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The course, typically held twice annually, incorporates classroom and practical training as well as evaluated simulated care in both medical and trauma-related scenarios. The sustainment course is necessary for the VNG’s combat medics to retain their 68W military occupational specialty, and must be completed every two years.
VNG Combat Medics tackle 68W sustainment training
Nov. 3, 2025
The Fort Pickett-based Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command hosted combat medics from across the state for 68W sustainment training Oct. 20-24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division and members of the Fort Pickett Fire and Emergency Services conduct water bucket training using a self-supporting portable water tank Aug. 21, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The training is the first time the aviators have trained filling water buckets from the 14,000-gallon tank, which can be deployed in areas without a nearby pond or lake. Aviation assets can support firefighting efforts with the use of water buckets, which require periodic training for flight crews in order to ensure equipment proficiency. Read more about the 2-224th at https://vngpao.info/mrxrkv3m.
VNG aviators conduct water bucket training using portable tank
Sept. 5, 2025
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division and members of the Fort Pickett Fire and Emergency Services conduct water bucket training Aug. 21, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. 

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Contact Fort Pickett

Switchboard
  • (434) 292-8621
Range Operations
  • (434) 292-2227 / (434) 292-8334
Directorate of Personnel and Community Activities
  • (434) 292-2327
ID Card Office
  • (434) 292-2497
  • Monday- Closed
  • Tuesday- Friday - 0800-1530
  • Closed for lunch - 1200-1230
Gym
  • (434) 292-2613
  • Monday- Thursday - 0600-1800
  • Friday- 0600- 1600
  • Closed Weekends
PX
  • (434) 292-5990
  • Mon-Wed 0900-1600
  • Thu-Fri 0900-1700
  • Sat 1000-1600
  • Sun Closed
Directorate of Public Works
  • (434) 292-8303
Directorate of Logistics
  • (434) 292-2948
Fish and Wildlife Management Program