Virginia National Guard

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

529th CSSB returns to United States from Afghanistan duty
March 24, 2011 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned to Virginia over the course of several days from March 21-24, 2011, after having served on federal active duty in Afghanistan since May 2010... MORE

Virginia Guard sustainment battalion Soldiers return to Virginia after Afghanistan duty

Staunton-based 116th BCT headquarters ordered to mobilize for active duty in Afghanistan
March 24, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters has received a mobilization order to enter federal active duty in Afghanistan, according to an announcement made March 24, 2011 by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. Long said approximately 175 Soldiers will begin serving on federal active duty May 15 and will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan... MORE

Aviation battalion conducts send-off before deployment to Iraq
March 4, 2011 — The “Punishers” of the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment conducted a departure ceremony Feb. 25 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston to bid farewell to the mobilizing Soldiers and to mark the official start of the unit's federal active duty service in Iraq... MORE

Departure ceremony held for Sandston-based Virginia Guard aviati

203rd RED HORSE holds memorial service for Airmen, Soldiers lost in airplane crash 10 years ago
March 4, 2011 — The Virginia Air National Guard's 203rd RED HORSE Squadron conducted a memorial service at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach March 3, 2011 to honor 18 unit members and three Florida Army Guard aviators who perished in a military transport crash 10 years ago... MORE

Virginia Air Guard's 203rd RED HORSE Squadron holds memorial service for Airmen lost in airplane crash 10 years ago

ChalleNGe cadets complete initial “Hardcore” phase
February 8, 2011 — Candidates for the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Program transitioned to full cadet status Jan. 27 and were recognized in a ceremony at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach after completing the two weeks of the “Hardcore” phase. During the mentally and physically rigorous first phase that determines eligibility for the full 20-week program, candidates tackled the obstacle course, rappel tower and leader reaction course at Fort A. P. Hill. After traversing 30-foot high obstacles and low crawling through the dirt, more than 120 candidates proved their mental toughness and ability to work as a team and earned a spot in the full program... MORE

ChalleNGe candidates navigate obstacle course

Virginia Guard battalion helps establish Afghan Transportation Network
January 27, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion has been instrumental in reaching an important milestone for sustainment operations in Afghanistan with the successful establishment of the Afghan Transportation Network. The first five trucks of the ATN departed Shindand Air Base Jan. 15, 2011, loaded with cargo for support of units of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division located in Herat, Afghanistan... MORE

Virginia Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduates 134 from Class 33
December 27, 2010 — The Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduated 134 cadets from Class 33 Dec. 18 at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Commonwealth ChalleNGe is a free, statewide quasi-military program for at-risk teens who have dropped out of high school... MORE

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