Virginia National Guard

Virginia, Maryland Soldiers from 29th Infantry Division begin federal active duty for Afghanistan mission
September 14, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division held a departure ceremony Sept. 12 for the Soldiers taking part in the unit’s federal mobilization for the Security Partnering mission in Afghanistan. The Soldiers officially began federal active duty Sept. 11... MORE

Departure ceremony held for 29th ID Soldiers headed to Afghanistan

116th BCT Soldiers pin combat patch during ceremony in Afghanistan
August 15, 2011 — “There are less than 2,000 Soldiers who wear the 29th Infantry Division symbol as a combat patch,” said Col. Blake C. Ortner, commander, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Aug. 6 at Forward Operating Base Lagman, Afghanistan, to the 100 Soldiers of the 116th BCT, as part of an award ceremony recognizing their deployment to a combat zone... MORE

116th BCT HQs assumes responsibility for mission in Afghanistan
August 8, 2011 — The Virginia Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters offically began its mission in Afghanistan and took over responsibility from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony held Aug. 7 at Forward Operating Base Eagle. The 116th began federal active duty May 15 and will serve as the higher headquarters in Zabul province for coalition troops... MORE

116th BCT troops meet with Romanian counterparts in Afghanistan
August 5, 2011 — Soldiers of the Staunton-based Virginia Army National Guard 116th Brigade Combat Team met with their Romanian Army counterparts at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Zabul, Afghanistan July 29 to establish a working partnership in Combined Team Zabul... MORE

Female Engagement Team blazes trails in Afghanistan
August 5, 2011 — A Stryker pulls up. The ramp lowers, and four Soldiers dismount, weapons at the ready, assault packs slung over their shoulders. The Afghan sun mercilessly beats down on their solid frames, swollen beads of perspiration growing heavy on each forehead. The leader lifts a hand and wipes the trickle of sweat from her eyes... MORE

Tajik Ministry of Defense, Virginia Guard look toward future
July 29, 2011 — A small group of Soldiers and Airmen from the Virginia National Guard met with leaders of the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense and Committee for Emergency Situations in Dushanbe to discuss disaster preparedness and military response to a domestic natural disaster June 13 to 19. The six Guardsmen were in the capital city visiting training facilities and examining terrain conditions around the city as part of the commonwealth’s State Partnership Program with the Central Asian country... MORE

Virginia Guard Soldiers helping build Afghan facilities
June 30, 2011 — Officers from the 29th Infantry Division are helping to build permanent facilities for the Afghan National Security Forces. Afghanistan infrastructure is changing across the country as Afghans and coalition partners join together to build bases for the Afghan National Security Forces. The ANSF is comprised of the Afghan National Army and the five divisions of the Afghan Police... MORE

Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 99 from Class 34
June 23, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduated 99 cadets from Class 34 June 18 at the Naval Air Station Oceana theater in Virginia Beach. Virginia Sen. Frank Wagner and Brig Gen. Wayne A. Wright, the deputy Adjutant General of Virginia, were among those on hand to congratulate the graduates. The ceremony also marked a farewell for retired Marine Corps Col. T.M. Early, who is retiring as director of the ChalleNGe program after leading it since 2005... MORE

ChalleNGe program holds graduation ceremony for class #34

29th ID troops in Afghanistan commemorate D-Day
June 22, 2011 — On June 6, Staff Sgt. Ryan Yancey raised the colors of the 29th Infantry Division at the International Joint Command Headquarters at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan... MORE

Soldiers from across the commonwealth begin federal active duty in Task Force 183
June 2, 2011 — The largest single unit mobilization in the Virginia Army National Guard since World War II officially began June 1 with departure events held in Fredericksburg, Christiansburg, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. Across the commonwealth, family, friends and community members bid farewell to approximately 825 Soldiers bound for federal active duty in Iraq where they will conduct convoy security and base defense operations in support of Operation New Dawn... MORE

29th Infantry Division prepares for Afghanistan deployment
May 30, 2011 — Soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division from Virginia and Maryland completed their two-week pre-mobilization training May 23 in order to prepare for a fall deployment to Afghanistan. The 72-person team is scheduled to replace the current group of 29th ID Soldiers who are now deployed to Afghanistan in support of the International Security Assistance Force-Security Partnering mission. This will mark the second year of a two-year requirement being filled by the 29th ID in support of the mission... MORE

29th Infantry Division prepare Afghan National Security Forces for the future
May 18, 2011 — Members of the 29th Infantry Division are assigned to duty as military advisors to key senior operational leaders within the Afghan National Security Forces... MORE

Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters departs for federal active duty
May 17, 2011 — Family, friends and members of the Staunton community gathered May 15 for a farewell ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters at the Shelburne Middle School gymnasium to officially mark the start of federal active duty for approximately 175 Soldiers. The unit will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. Before deploying to Afghanistan, the unit will report to Camp Shelby, Miss., to conduct training for approximately 45 to 60 days... MORE

Soldiers from Staunton-based BCT HQs load out to begin federal active duty

529th CSSB Soldiers honored at Norfolk Tides opener
April 21, 2011 — The Norfolk Tides honored the Soldiers of the Virginia Beach based- 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at the baseball team’s home opener April 17 at Harbor Park in Norfolk. Nearly 50 Soldiers and their family members were on hand for the game, which featured a 529th CSSB color guard and Maj. Matt Lutz, the 529th executive officer, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. In addition, dozens of photos from the unit’s recent deployment to Afghanistan were shown on the stadium video screen during the seventh inning stretch... MORE

529th CSSB honored at Norfolk Tides opening day

Virginia Guard Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force holds departure ceremony for federal duty in Afghanistan
March 30, 2011 — A specially trained platoon of 42 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers officially began their tour on federal active duty with a departure ceremony held March 28 in Sandston. The platoon will deploy to Afghanistan to serve as a Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force... MORE

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