Virginia National Guard

VNG COVID-19 response efforts highlight pride, teamwork for Soldiers
June 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – With more than 500 Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force mobilized in support of the state’s COVID-19 response, everyone has their own story of what their service means to them. For Sgt. Kenneth Wilson, it’s pride. “I’m always proud to help… ... MORE

229th BEB supports operations at Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
June 2, 2020 — FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are lending a hand to help feed citizens in need by supporting the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank as part of COVID-19 response operations. A team of about 35 Soldiers... ... MORE

Rhodes to succeed Epperly as commander of the 29th Infantry Division
May 28, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Brig. Gen. John M. Rhodes has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly as the commander of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made May 22, 2020, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment will… ... MORE

Virginia's fallen remember at Commonwealth's Memorial Day Ceremony
May 27, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The 64th Annual Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony honored and remembered the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation May 25, 2020, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins and Spc. Neil… ... MORE

Virginia’s fallen remembered at Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony

Red Dragons assist Roanoke fist responders with flood evacuations
May 22, 2020 — ROANOKE, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assisted with flood response and rescue operations in the Roanoke, Virginia, area after days of heavy rains resulted in major flooding in and around the city. Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team supported rescue… ... MORE

Red Dragons assist Roanoke first responders with flood evacuations

VNG continues to support state COVID-19 response
May 21, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has more than 530 personnel actively working or ready to support the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 response as of May 21, 2020. VNG Soldiers, Airmen, and members of the Virginia Defense Force are conducting numerous missions including sample collection for COVID-19 testing, N95 […] ... MORE

VNG state safety office helps Soldiers train for mask fit missions
May 19, 2020 — PETERSBURG, Va. — As part of Virginia National Guard’s ongoing COVID-19 response operations, VNG Soldiers are performing N95 mask fit testings at long term care and other facilities across the Commonwealth. Before the Soldiers can perform these missions, they’re getting hands-on training courtesy of the VNG state safety office…... MORE

DMA recognizes outstanding state employees
May 15, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — During the COVID-19 pandemic the Virginia Department of Military Affairs continues to recognize outstanding individual state employees and also agency-wide award winners for their accomplishments. Previously, DMA conducted the State Employee Recognition Day by providing a banquet and an awards ceremony at two different locations, Fort Pickett…... MORE

Governor's Certificate of Recognition honors Virginia National Guard birthday
May 13, 2020 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a Certificate of Recognition honoring the Virginia National Guard’s 413th birthday. The VNG traces the heritage and traditions of citizen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense. Since the colony’s founding May 14, 1607, there has not… ... MORE

VDF Communication Battalion holds virtual change of command ceremony
May 8, 2020 — LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Virginia Defense Force held a virtual change of command ceremony for the Lynchburg-based Communication Battalion, Support Operations Group May 1, 2020. Due to the restrictions of the current pandemic, the battalion could not assemble in person, so participants from across the state utilized a collaborative virtual… ... MORE

Zollar succeeds Gallagher, will lead Va. Army National Guard strategic initiatives
May 8, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. James Zollar was promoted to brigadier general May 7, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters in Richmond, Virginia and succeeds Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher as the VNG’s Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant… ... MORE

VNG strike teams boost Virginia's COVID-19 testing capacity
May 7, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman are helping increase Virginia’s COVID-19 testing capacity at long-term care facilities with point prevalence sampling teams. The PPS teams began testing missions April 29, 2020, and have collected more than 2,700 patient samples for testing. Led by the Richmond-based 34th Chemical… ... MORE

#StayHome & COVID-19: Reflections from VNG'g Director of Psychological Health
May 6, 2020 — It’s been roughly six weeks since the outside closed and we were encouraged to #StayHome in hopes these efforts would slow the spread of COVID-19. Home is where we were the safest and that is where we were told to stay. Early on in the beginning stages of the pandemic… ... MORE

Full-time psychological health support available to VaARNG

VNG recognizes military spouses for Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 6, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – National Guard military spouses are honored and appreciated throughout the year, but they receive a special recognition on National Military Spouse Appreciation Day, which is celebrated the Friday before Mother’s Day. This year it will be observed Friday, May 8. The spouses of our service members play… ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Airman is 2019’s top Unit Career Advisor in the nation
May 5, 2020 — The National Guard Bureau announced the winners for the 2019 Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention National Awards on April 6, 2020. Among them is Staff Sgt. Jonquil Willard, a munitions control specialist with the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Maintenance Squadron. In an official memorandum to wing commanders and directors of staff, Willard was named as the 2019 Unit Career Advisor of the Year in the nation with superior retention programs... MORE

A studio photograph of a female Airman in her blues uniform

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category