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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...

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...

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. ...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

DMA Employees at Fort Barfoot recognized during appreciation luncheon
June 10, 2025 — Col. Beau Mason, Virginia National Guard construction and facilities management officer, Lt. Col. Eric Quinn, Fort Barfoot garrison commander, and retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, presented awards to DMA workers as part of a state employee recognition luncheon May 22, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. ...

116th IBCT to field test new mobile brigade combat team organization
June 9, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate the approved task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Barfoot, 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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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. ...

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