Virginia National Guard

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

Va. National Guard task force begins federal active duty for security mission in Africa
November 27, 2021 — State and federal elected officials and senior military leaders joined families, friends and fellow Soldiers to mark the official start of federal active duty for more than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers Nov. 27, 2021, at departure ceremonies in Bedford, Virginia, and Lexington, Kentucky... MORE

Virginia National Guard Supports Bold Quest 21
November 20, 2021 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard provided operational support to Joint Staff sponsored Coalition Capability Demonstration and Assessment event Bold Quest 21.2 at Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, Oct. 18 through Nov. 18, 2021. Units supporting the event included the 91st Cyber Brigade, 192nd Wing and 192nd Medical Group... MORE

New historic artifacts in place at VNG headquarters
November 17, 2021 — Thanks to the hard work of the Virginia National Guard History Program and a group of volunteers, the VNG Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, is home to several new historic artifacts on permanent display. ... MORE

Veterans Day observed across Virginia and overseas
November 17, 2021 — Virginia National Guard personnel honored the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Armed Forces at ceremonies across Virginia as well as overseas Nov. 11, 2021, in honor of Veterans Day... MORE

Veterans honored at Va. War Memorial Ceremony

116th Infantry Regiment holds 53rd annual muster
November 17, 2021 — Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to remember the unit’s history and enjoy fellowship at the 53rd annual muster Nov. 13, 2021, in Staunton, Virginia... MORE

Despite mission change, 29th ID Soldiers' resilience proves useful in escort mission
November 8, 2021 — With just a bit more information than the fictitious Rangers who boarded a plane with “mission undetermined, destination unknown,” a handful of Soldiers from Task Force Freedom and 29th Infantry Division showed the same grit and determination when they accepted their mission during Operation Allies Refuge. ... MORE

New VDF recruits graduate from Initial Entry Training, look forward to serving the commonwealth
November 3, 2021 — Ten new members of the Virginia Defense Force marked their completion of Initial Entry Training Sept. 11, 2021, in a graduation ceremony at the VDF Headquarters at Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

AG approves VDF force structure change
November 3, 2021 — The Virginia Defense Force will undergo a force structure change in the coming months to provide opportunities to grow capabilities to better support the Virginia National Guard and Commonwealth of Virginia... MORE

29th ID cadet continues family’s extensive legacy of military service
November 3, 2021 — Upon swearing into the Virginia Army National Guard Aug. 20, 2021, Cadet Ethan Pulket began adding to his family’s legacy of more than 200 years of combined military service. For generations, his family has served in the National Guard and, notably, the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, where Pulket will be assigned upon receiving his commission. ... MORE

Cadet Ethan Pulkit swears into the Virginia Army National Guard in front of family, friends and peers during a ceremony held Aug. 20, 2021, at Christopher Newport University McMurran Hall, Newport News, Virginia. With more than 200 years of combined family service in the National Guard, Pulket will be following in his family's footsteps and be part of the 4th generation to continue the legacy of military service to the nation and the 29th ID. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

VNG recruiter gives back to area high schools
November 2, 2021 — Staff Sgt. Matthew Riley’s hometown roots rest in Abingdon, Virginia, a small town located in the southwest corner of the state. In high school, he was active in athletics, playing on both the football and wrestling teams at Abingdon High School, and he wrestled in college too, at King University, in Bristol, Tennessee. Funding his college dreams was part of what led him to join the National Guard, along with a strong desire to serve his country and community. ... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard recruiters pose in front of a tunnel at Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Matthew Riley, center, coaches at the school and helped fund the tunnel by donating his full salary back to the school. (Courtesy photo)

TF Spartan, 29th ID stand up TF Freedom, move 5,000 Afghans through Kuwait
November 2, 2021 — On a particularly hazy mid-September day in Kuwait, Maj. Gen. John Rhodes, commanding general of Task Force Spartan and the National Guard’s Virginia-based 29th Infantry Division, stood near a camp on a military base in Kuwait. Empty tents lined the desert in front of him. This was his Soldiers’ doing. ... MORE

Training helps MTC staff spread UXO awareness
October 29, 2021 — Soldiers and civilians assigned to Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett completed a two-day “train the trainer” course designed to help spread awareness of the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance Sept. 28-29, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Defense Force conducts statewide readiness exercise
October 20, 2021 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted the Highland Guardian 21 field training exercise Oct. 2, 2021, at multiple locations across Virginia to test their regional liaison, incident management assistance, access control and interoperable communications support capabilities... MORE

VNG aviators train fire-fighting skills before KFOR deployment
October 19, 2021 — With an upcoming deployment to Kosovo, Virginia Army National Guard flight crews took to the skies of Chesterfield, Virginia, to certify their ability to fight fires with massive water buckets Oct. 12, 2021. The buckets are capable of picking up and hauling nearly 6,000 pounds of water, which can then be flown to the site of a wildfire and dropped to assist with fire-fighting efforts on the ground. ... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard flight crews conduct water bucket training with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters Oct. 12, 2021, at a training area in Chesterfield, Virginia. Aviation assets can support fire-fighting efforts with the use of water buckets, which require periodic training for flight crews in order to ensure equipment proficiency. These Soldiers are scheduled to deploy to Kosovo with the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division in early 2022, where fire-fighting capabilities may be needed. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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