Virginia National Guard

ChalleNGe candidates tackle rappel tower during "Hard Core" phase
January 24, 2012 — Rappel Master Instructors from the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute offered their expertise to candidates of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy Jan. 20 as they descended the 30-foot rappel tower at Fort Story during the "Hard Core" phase of the program. The Hard Core phase is the first two weeks of the ChalleNGe program where the cadre determines whether the students have what it takes to become cadets in the program... MORE

Virginia Guard Engineers work with Tajikistani troops
January 10, 2012 — A group of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers traveled to Tajikistan Nov. 10- 17 to conduct a four-day engineer workshop with members of the Tajikistani military... MORE

Soldiers from Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters return to Virginia after duty in Afghanistan
January 9, 2012 — Approximately 110 Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters returned to Virginia Jan. 7 after serving on federal active duty in Afghanistan since early August 2011. The unit served as headquarters for Combined Team Zabul where it conducted full-spectrum counterinsurgency operations in Zabul Province in southeast Afghanistan, a region nearly the size of the State of New Jersey. They officially began federal active duty May 15, 2011 and mobilized with just 60 days notice... MORE

116th BCT HQs Soldiers return to Virginia after duty in Afghanis

Last group of Va. Guard Soldiers from Task Force 183 return to United States after duty in Iraq
December 15, 2011 — With the return of approximately 320 Soldiers to Camp Atterbury, Ind., Dec. 11 and 12, 2011, all the personnel from the Virginia National Guard's Task Force 183 have returned to the United States after serving in Iraq since August 2011. The Soldiers officially began federal active duty June 1... MORE

Soldiers return to Christiansburg after tour of duty in Iraq

Task Force Punisher Soldiers return to Virginia from Iraq
December 15, 2011 — Approximately 210 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Sandston-based 2nd Assault Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command returned to Virginia Dec. 10, 2011, after serving in Iraq since April 2011. The Soldiers arrived in two separate flights on Saturday, and were welcomed home by senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard and reunited with their families and friends at the Virginia National Guard Aviation Support Facility in Sandston... MORE

Warm welcome home as "Task Force Punisher" returns to Virginia

First group of Sandston-based National Guard aviation battalion returns to USA from duty in Iraq
December 5, 2011 — Approximately 275 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Sandston-based 2nd Assault Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 91st Troop Command returned to the United States Dec. 3 and 4, 2011 after serving in Iraq since April 2011. The Soldiers are the main body of about 325 total Soldiers from the unit returning to Virginia, and they will spend about seven to 10 days conducting a number of different administrative and reintegration demobilization activities at Fort Hood, Texas to transition from active duty back to traditional National Guard status prior to returning to Virginia... MORE

First group of Soldiers from Task Force 183 returns to USA from duty in Iraq
December 2, 2011 — Approximately 120 Soldiers from the Suffolk-based Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team returned to the United States Dec. 1, 2011 after serving in Iraq since August 2011. The Soldiers will spend about seven to 10 days conducting a number of different administrative and reintegration training activities at their demobilization station at Camp Atterbury, Ind. to transition from active duty back to traditional National Guard status prior to returning to Virginia... MORE

Virginia Guard receives funding for STARBASE youth education program in Winchester
November 2, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard has received federal funding to establish a STARBASE youth education program that will be hosted at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester... MORE

Soldiers from 29th Infantry Division return from duty in Afghanistan
October 27, 2011 — Approximately 72 Virginia and Maryland National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division returned home to family and friends Oct. 27 after serving in Afghanistan since early December 2010. The Soldiers returned to their demobilization station at Camp Atterbury, Ind., Oct. 20 and completed health screenings and other administrative tasks to transition from active duty back to National Guard status. The Soldiers returned to airports close to their home of record throughout the day on Thursday... MORE

Virginia Beach-based Air Guard civil engineer squadron returns to Virginia from overseas duty
October 13, 2011 — Family and friends welcomed approximately 120 Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron back to Virginia Oct. 8, 2011, after serving in Afghanistan and other locations in the Central Command area of operations. The unit began federal active duty Feb. 17, 2011, spent several weeks conducting final preparations in Virginia, then spent three weeks in early March at Fort McCoy, Wisc., for Combat Skills Training before heading overseas... MORE

Airmen from 203rd RED HORSE Squadron return to Virginia

Virginia Guard medical professionals conduct medical information exchange in Tajikistan
October 5, 2011 — A group of six medical professionals from the Virginia Air and Army National Guard traveled to Dushanbe, Tajikistan in August to conduct a medical information exchange with military forces there. The five-day trip was a follow on to a 2010 medical information exchange in Virginia and the goal was to assess and develop the medical readiness and capabilities of the Tajik Peacekeeping Forces in preparation for a 2013 NATO mission... MORE

TF 183 'CET' up for success in Iraq
October 3, 2011 — Convoys loaded down with supplies and equipment travel the roads of Iraq every day. Their goals are simply to get from point A to point B. In southern Iraq it is the mission of the Soldiers of the Task Force 183, also known as Task Force Recon, to ensure they make it safely. U.S. Forces continue to provide security for these convoys to keep up supplies for troops stationed throughout the country as well as to assist with the scheduled withdrawal by the end of 2011. For the Virginia National Guardsmen of Task Force 183 based out of Contingency Operating Base Adder, it is a mission they are determined to continue and succeed at... MORE

Virginia troops meet with Tajik border guards during SPP trip
October 1, 2011 — A group of Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard traveled to Tajikistan Aug. 8-16 to advise the Tajik Border Guard on how to reduce the threat of narcotics trafficking along the Afghan border. The two officers and four noncommissioned officers advised the TBG in designing and implementing an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance plan that concentrated on a U.S.-provided Unmanned Ground Sensor System border in the Pianj and Hamadoni districts of Khatlon Province... MORE

Aircraft fuel handlers keep helicopters flying in Iraq
September 21, 2011 — Soldiers from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade are doing their part to keep helicopters flying in Iraq by operating the Forward Arming and Refueling Point at Contingency Operating Base Adder... MORE

TF 183 assumes command from TF Griz in Iraq
September 20, 2011 — Soldiers with Task Force 183, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command from Portsmouth, Va., assumed command of the convoy escort mission in southern Iraq from Task Force Griz, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Sust. Bde., from Belgrade, Mont., during a transfer of authority ceremony Aug. 28 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq... MORE

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