Virginia National Guard

29th ID Soldiers who served in Kosovo serve together again in Kuwait
January 4, 2022 — It was just over 15 years ago that 12 Soldiers who are presently deployed with the 29th Infantry Division as Task Force Spartan were part of a brigade-sized element that assumed the duties of Task Force Falcon, Kosovo Force 8, Multinational Task Force-East based at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo... MORE

Governor, First Lady host families of deployed VNG Soldiers, Airmen
January 3, 2022 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the First Lady of Virginia Pam Northam hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 11, 2021, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

TF Red Dragon trained, ready following CTE
December 21, 2021 — With almost 1,000 Soldiers on the ground, Task Force Red Dragon has finished its training and is now ready to deploy to the Horn of Africa after completing a Culminating Training Exercise, which began Dec. 13, 2021, at Camp McGregor, New Mexico. ... MORE

Course introduces Virginia Soldiers to Army H2F program
December 15, 2021 — The Virginia Army National Guard hosted a five-day Total Health and Performance course Dec. 6-10, 2021, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The course, which is Virginia’s application of the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program, focused on the five domains of fitness: physical, nutritional, mental, spiritual and sleep... MORE

Ceremony marks official start of TF Thunder mobilization
December 15, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team marked the official start of their federal active duty mission at a deployment ceremony Dec. 13, 2021, in Norfolk, Virginia... MORE

34th CST trained, ready following formal evaluation
December 14, 2021 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team was evaluated as trained and mission capable after a Training Proficiency Evaluation Nov. 16 and 18, 2021, in Henrico County, Virginia and at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Deployment ceremony scheduled for Dec. 13 in Norfolk for deploying Virginia National Guard field artillery battalion
December 13, 2021 — A deployment ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Norfolk, Virginia... MORE

Thunder Soldiers gather for regimental muster, honor Saint Barbara’s Day
December 13, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Field Artillery Soldiers past and present gathered for the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment’s annual Regimental Muster and Saint Barbara’s Day celebration Dec. 11, 2021, in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

VNG NCO reflects on 20 years of service in Counterdrug Program
December 9, 2021 — First Sgt. Brian Wright’s career in the Virginia National Guard’s Counterdrug Program started with a 75-day order that started July 23, 2001. He was a sergeant then, with about a decade of service in a handful of units across the state. He’d spotted a listing for a budget analyst at his armory and figured it might be an interesting opportunity. Twenty years later, he’s the senior enlisted advisor for the program, has served under 11 Counterdrug coordinators and established himself as a competent, reliable source of continuity and expertise... MORE

VNG cyber protection battalion completes TF Echo mission
December 6, 2021 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade marked the end of their support for Task Force Echo with a transition of authority ceremony Dec. 1, 2021, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland... MORE

Task Force Echo – America’s Citizen Cyber Warriors

329th Regional Support Group Headquarters moves from Iraq to Kuwait
December 1, 2021 — Col. Todd Pegg, commander of the Virginia National Guard's 329th Regional Support Group, transitioned base command authority to Lt. Col. Nathan Adkins, commander of 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Nov. 23, 2021, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq... MORE

VNG, DMA representatives participate in incident management training
December 1, 2021 — Representatives from the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Department of Military Affairs participated in an All Hazards Incident Management Training class hosted at the Richmond Fire Department’s fire training center Nov. 8 - 12, 2021, in Sandston, Virginia... MORE

Former VNG Soldier inducted into ROTC Hall of Fame at W&M
November 30, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers helped honor 1st Lt. Todd W. Weaver, during a military appreciation football game Nov. 13, 2021, at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Weaver began his military career as a combat engineer in the VNG and was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. The event included Weaver’s induction into the ROTC Hall of Fame, a flyover by two VNG UH-60 helicopters and cannon fire from VNG artillerymen... MORE

First Lt. Todd W. Weaver is inducted into the Army ROTC Hall of Fame during a military appreciation football game Nov. 13, 2021, at the College of William and Mary. Weaver started his military career in the Virginia National Guard before transitioning to active duty and was killed in action during a night ambush operation in Afghanistan Sept. 9, 2010. Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, Director of the Joint Staff for the Virginia National Guard, presided over the induction ceremony and recognized Weaver’s family on the field. Virginia National Guard cannon crews assigned to the Hanover-based Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division supported the event with cannon fire and a flyover. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

VNG Soldier finds success through resilience
November 29, 2021 — Staff Sgt. Robert J. Gwilt’s connection to his Navajo heritage comes largely from the relationship he built with his grandfather while growing up in Gallup, New Mexico. “I grew up ranching cattle and riding horses,” he said. “Mostly with my grandfather until my dad moved us away from Gallup. We would drive all over the reservation and we raised livestock to sell to the local markets.”... MORE

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Gwilt poses with his family.

Rank, responsibility passes from mentor to mentee in South Boston ceremony
November 29, 2021 — Seventeen years after 1st Sgt. Donnie Brizendine enlisted a young Michael Clay into the Virginia Army National Guard, he removed the first sergeant rank from his chest and attached it to Clay’s uniform. That act was Brizendine’s last as a first sergeant, one he completed just before passing responsibility of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion’s Alpha Company to Clay in a ceremony held Oct. 20, 2021, at the armory in South Boston, Virginia... MORE

Soldiers assigned to Alpha Company of the Virginia National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion welcomed a new first sergeant and commander in a ceremony held Oct. 20, 2021 at the armory in South Boston, Virginia. Capt. Michael Eames took command of the company from Capt. Keith Agee, and 1st Sgt. Michael Clay took responsibility of the formation from 1st Sgt. Donnie Brizendine, who recruited Clay into the National Guard 17 years ago. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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