Virginia National Guard

VaANG cyber warriors defend digital front during Locked Shields 26
May 6, 2026 — Six members of the Virginia Air National Guard participated in Locked Shields 2026, an international cyber defense exercise, April 11-25, 2026, in Jyväskylä, Finland... MORE

Astphan succeeds Rohler as 329th RSG commander
April 27, 2026 — Col. Alyssa Y. Astphan took command of the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group from Col. Juanita Rohler during a ceremony held April 19, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Charles B. Martin Jr., the Virginia Army National Guard’s Land Component Commander, presided over the ceremony and exchange of unit colors that signified the transfer of command from Rohler to Astphan. ... MORE

First Formation continues building faster, stronger entry point for Virginia Guard Soldiers
April 27, 2026 — After nearly seven months of implementation, the Virginia Army National Guard’s First Formation program has welcomed hundreds of Soldiers into the force, providing a structured introduction for those newly assigned or recently transferred into the organization. Held monthly at Defense Supply Center Richmond, First Formation provides in-processing support, connects Soldiers with unit representatives, and ensures their administrative and equipment needs are in place from day one. Since the first iteration, ongoing refinements to the process have improved efficiency and overall execution. ... MORE

116th MBCT tests new tech during live-fire exercise
April 24, 2026 — Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Brig. Gen. Rusty McGuire, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army Strategic Initiatives, saw some of the unit’s new capabilities put into practice during a multi-domain live-fire exercise April 18, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VNG youth kick off Month of the Military Child
April 16, 2026 — April is Month of the Military Child and the Virginia National Guard Child & Youth Program kicked off the celebration with an event March 28- 29, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

VaARNG Soldiers compete for spot on All Guard Endurance Team
April 15, 2026 — A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers made a strong showing at the All Guard Endurance Team Trials April 11, 2026, at the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Grand Island, Nebraska. ... MORE

VNG team participates in Exercise Cold Response in Finland
April 8, 2026 — A team of Virginia National Guard officers traveled to Finland to participate in Exercise Cold Response, a multi-country and multi-service winter exercise lead by the Norwegian Army which concluded March 20, 2026... MORE

VaANG Airmen bridge gap between F-22, F-35
April 7, 2026 — In the high-stakes world of fifth-generation warfare, the difference between a mission’s success and failure often comes down to how quickly a jet can get back in the air. For the Airmen of the 192nd Wing, that means being ready for anything—even if the jet in front of them isn't the F-22 Raptor they’re used to... MORE

Four U.S. Air Force service members in camouflage uniforms walk together across a wet airfield, with several F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets parked in the background.

34th CERFP Soldiers receive tab after search and extraction course
April 1, 2026 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based 3647th Maintenance Company and the 34th CERFP received their search and extraction tabs during patching ceremony March 15, 2026, in Blackstone, Virginia. ... MORE

Soldiers Recognized During Patching Ceremony

4 Soldiers pinned as warrant officers through VNG WOCS
March 19, 2026 — Four Soldiers graduated from the Virginia Army National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School and were appointed as warrant officers March 8, 2026, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The graduates entered the Old Dominion Cohort after completing a rigorous program that tested their technical expertise and leadership. On average, the candidates had 12 years of service, an overall academic average of 91% and represented three branches. ... MORE

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. ... MORE

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. ... MORE

Staff Sgt. Newton and Spc. Cooper pose after winning the Best Warrior Competition

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... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe welcomes Class 64 candidates

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. ... MORE

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... MORE

VNG Airmen demonstrate combat casualty care techniques

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