Virginia National Guard

Hart family celebrates VNG enlistment with brother-led oath
July 15, 2025 — When Will Hart raised his right hand to enlist into the Virginia Army National Guard, it was his older brother, 2nd Lt. Luke Hart, who stood across from him and administered the oath of enlistment. For the Hart brothers, service in the Virginia Army National Guard is now a shared commitment... MORE

Brothers 2nd Lt. Luke Hart, at left, and Will Hart, post together June 18, 2025, follow Will's enlistment into the Virginia Army National Guard at the Fort Lee Military Entrance Processing Station. Luke commissioned in May and was able to administer the oath of enlistment to his younger brother, who is currently attending The Citadel. (Courtesy Photo)

Moore takes command of 116th IBCT
July 14, 2025 — Col. Arthur S. Moore took charge as the new commander of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Jared D. Lake June 24, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

TAG, CSEL conduct key leader engagements in Tajikistan
July 14, 2025 — Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Master Sgt. John Nye, the Virginia National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader, conducted key leader engagements with senior Tajikistan officials June 23 and 24, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ... MORE

Ring, Nye conduct key leader engagements in Tajikistan

116th IBCT tests new mobile brigade combat team organization during XCTC rotation
July 11, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate an approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VNG’s 116th IBCT field tests new mobile brigade combat team organization during XCTC rotation

111th FA Soldier among VNG's World War II missing in action
July 7, 2025 — Henrico County resident Tech. Sgt. Joshua B. Swanner, originally part of the 111th Field Artillery, was shot down in a B-24 over Indonesian waters in May 1944 during Woirld War II... MORE

VNG’s World War II MIA includes sergeant serving with Air Corps

DMA state employees honored at SMR
July 1, 2025 — Retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and Lt. Col. Emily Huffman, the State Military Reservation commander, recognized DMA state employees and thanked them for their service during a luncheon June 16, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

DMA employees at SMR recognized at luncheon

29th ID participates in Finland's Exercise Karelian Sword
July 1, 2025 — Approximately 20 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division participated in exercise Karelian Sword, a large-scale, multi-national military exercise, May 23 - 30, 2025, in the Kymenlaakso region of Finland. ... MORE

29th ID participates in Karelian Sword exercise in Finland

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 30 cadets from Class 62
June 30, 2025 — Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 30 cadets from Class 62 June 14, 2025, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

VNG conducts military decision making process exchange in Tajikistan
June 24, 2025 — Five Virginia National Guard members conducted a staff officer exchange with members of the Tajikistan Armed Forces June 9 - 13, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003... MORE

VNG chaplain leadership recognizes VDF chaplains for their support
June 23, 2025 — Col. Seung Lee, Virginia Army National Guard state chaplain, and Maj. Will Cochrane, the VNG deputy full-time support chaplain, presented certificates of appreciation and state chaplain coins to six members of the Virginia Defense Force Chaplain Corps June 7, 2025, at Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

34th CST travels to Alaska for joint exercise
June 17, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team joined other CSTs and emergency response organizations for Exercise ORCA 25 June 9-13, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. ... MORE

34th CST participates in joint exercise in Alaska

Civic Leader Appreciation Day showcases VAARNG to Virginia educators
June 17, 2025 — The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted its second annual Civic Leader Appreciation Day June 6, 2025, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Approximately 100 teachers, school administrators, and support staff attended the event, where they met senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard, learned information about the organization and opportunities available to their students, and had the opportunity to experience a flight in a Black Hawk helicopter, courtesy of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Battalion... MORE

29th ID Soldiers participate in Normandy D-Day commemoration
June 13, 2025 — As the sun rose on the northern coast of France June 6, 2025, a group of 30 U.S. National Guard Soldiers, all assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, organized themselves into a neat formation. The tide was in and, as the Atlantic Ocean lapped against Omaha Beach, a crowd gathered around the Soldiers. The onlookers had come from all over, traveling from nearby French villages and towns, neighboring European nations and, of course, the United States. Everyone there that morning - from the most junior Soldier standing in formation, to the oldest reenactor on the beach - was there to pay tribute to the men who stormed Normandy’s beaches on D-Day... MORE

VNG helps commemorate D-Day 81 in Bedford
June 12, 2025 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers participated in the 81st D-Day Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony June 6, 2025, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, on the anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II... MORE

Virginia National Guard military installation renamed to honor World War II hero
June 10, 2025 — 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... MORE

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