Virginia National Guard

192nd Medical Group, Det. 1, welcomes new commander to lead transition to COVID-19 vaccination mission, CBRNE evaluation
March 16, 2021 — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Medical Group, Detachment 1, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony March 13, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. VaANG members, family and friends tuned into the ceremony via a live streamed broadcast on social media as Lt. Col. Lynn K. Samms assumed command of the specialized medical unit from Lt. Col. Gregory Chew. Col. Jason R. Price, 192nd MDG commander, presided over the ceremony... MORE

An airman hands a flag to another during a change of command ceremony

Virginia National Guard reconfiguring task force to provide mobile vaccination teams
March 15, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard is reconfiguring the task force currently conducting COVID-19 testing and mask fit training to create mobile vaccination teams to provide additional capacity for the statewide vaccination program... MORE

Virginia National Guard personnel administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam March 15, 2021, at the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia.

Fort Pickett vaccination clinic open to service members, TRICARE beneficiaries, DoD retirees
March 15, 2021 — BLACKSTONE, Va. -- The Virginia National Guard COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is fully operational at Fort Pickett, and any service member, TRICARE beneficiary or Department of Defense retiree may schedule an appointment to receive their vaccination. Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees and members of the Virginia Defense Force are also eligible to receive a vaccination at the clinic... MORE

VNG opens COVID-19 vaccination clinic, encourages personnel to get vaccinated

Virginia Guard chaplains, NCOs provided valuable support to D.C. mission
March 10, 2021 — RICHMOND, Virginia – When Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen headed to Washington, D.C., in January, chaplains and religious affairs specialists were right alongside them to provide support and assistance... MORE

Chaplains support troops on mission in Washington, D.C.

Va. Army Guard Construction, Facility Management Office recognized with Fred Aron Award from NGB
March 10, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard Construction and Facility Management Office recently received both the regional and national Fred Aron Award for Excellence in Facilities Programs for Fiscal Year 20 from the National Guard Bureau. The Fred Aron award is presented to states or territories to recognize their work based on construction, resource management, strategic plans and education, facilities management, energy management and real estate. ... MORE

The 91st Cyber Brigade headquarters currently under construction at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

New VNG task force will help support vaccine clinics
March 10, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 250 Virginia National Guard Soldiers from across the state are supporting the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Health at COVID-19 community vaccination sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Starting March 1, 2021, the task force began a two-week training period at vaccination sites across the commonwealth. ... MORE

More than 30 Virginia National Guard Soldiers train on providing administrative and logistics support to a COVID-19 vaccination site March 1, 2021, at Richmond Raceway in Henrico County, Virginia.

DMA's first mentorship program marks success with graduation
March 9, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After a year of overcoming challenges in order to learn from each other, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs’ first-ever mentorship program class of mentors and mentees graduated during a ceremony Feb. 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Participants in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs’ first-ever mentorship program graduate during a ceremony Feb. 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

203rd RED HORSE honors its fallen on tragedy’s 20th anniversary
March 5, 2021 — Airmen from the 192nd Wing’s 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) came together March 3, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of what's known as the worst peacetime aviation disaster in National Guard history and the worst loss of life in the Virginia National Guard since World War II. ... MORE

An honor guard Airman lays a wreath in front of a memorial

229th BEB NCO felt destined for military service
March 5, 2021 — FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – As a kid, Sgt. Cassandra Lyons grew up playing with G.I Joes, so it wasn’t that surprising when she joined the Virginia National Guard her junior year of high school. “I felt almost destined to be in the military,” she explained. “I had an interest in the comradery the organization provides.”... MORE

, Sgt. Cassandra Lyons, the supply sergeant for Alpha Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, poses in her office March 2, 2021, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Holden Russell)

First female VNG two-star thanks family, NCOs, highlights role of empathy, integrity
March 4, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Before she made history, commanded troops or wore a uniform, Maj. Gen. Michelle Rose was just another high school student trying to figure out how to pay for college. The lone girl in a family of six kids, she applied to ROTC programs, received a scholarship from the U.S. Army and started working toward an engineering degree at North Carolina State University. Since then, over a career spanning more than three decades, Rose has met her husband, raised three independent and trailblazing daughters, deployed in support of multiple overseas operations and, most recently, become the first woman from the Virginia National Guard to achieve the rank of major general... MORE

Lt. Col. Michelle Rose, commander of the 529th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, during their deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

Army Guard recruiter recommits to college commitment
March 1, 2021 — HAMPTON, Va. -- When Staff Sgt. Monisha Braxton was 17, her main goal was to go to college. Her financial situation made that goal extra challenging and while other students her age were making college plans, she was busy working in the food service industry. Braxton graduated high school with honors and looked into taking some classes at a local community college. The tuition was still more than she could afford so, she joined the U.S. Army, largely because the Army recruiter was the first to return her call... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard recruiter Staff Sgt. Monisha Braxton assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion shares stories about her military experience and the commitments she made to herself Feb 24, 2021, in Hampton, Virginia. With 8 years of service in the National Guard, Braxton stresses the importance of sticking to your goals. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

329th RSG conducts reverse RSOI for VNG units returning from D.C.
February 25, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – The Virginia-Beach based 329th Regional Support Group can finally take a breath after managing the complete administrative in-processing and out-processing of over 2,500 Virginia National Guard Soldiers supporting law enforcement in Washington D.C. from Jan. 8 to Feb. 12, 2021. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group guide VNG Soldiers returning from duty supporting law enforcement in Washington, D.C. through the reverse reception, staging, onward movement and integration process Feb. 8, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Cyber intelligence Airman draws inspiration from role models
February 24, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. -- After enlisting in the Air Force Reserve in 2007 and serving more than a decade in the intelligence field, Master Sgt. Anthony Jones decided to make the jump to the Virginia Air National Guard to pursue a new challenge: cyber intelligence. Jones is now a cyber intelligence section chief for the 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, Virginia’s first cyber squadron charged with defense of the Air Force Information Network. ... MORE

Virginia Air National Guard recognizes its state, national-level winners in virtual ceremony
February 24, 2021 — Leaders from the Virginia Air National Guard recognized the organization’s top performers of the year during an annual awards ceremony Feb. 20, 2021... MORE

Airman stop to receive their awards during a ceremony

VNG Soldiers, Airmen continue COVID-19 response support
February 24, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 120 Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s COVID-19 testing task force are continuing operations in support of the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, even as their mission evolves to include support to vaccination clinics run by local health departments across the commonwealth. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide logistics and operations support at a COVID-19 vaccine point of distribution hosted by the Blue Ridge Health District Feb. 4, 2021, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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