Virginia National Guard

VNG pilot pops surprise proposal at JMU game
November 13, 2019 — HARRISONBURG, Va. – By the time he started walking toward the James Madison University football field, 2015 alum 1st Lt. Blake Place was already having a pretty great day. He and his fellow Soldiers, all assigned to Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, helped kick off the Nov. 9, 2019, football game with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flyover. Now, it was almost time to propose to Andrea Dargie, his girlfriend of two years. Place wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but his fellow pilots helped him out as they wound their way through the stadium toward the field. They were tailed by a cluster of family members and friends, including Dargie, who had no idea what was coming... MORE

29th ID Band’s efforts rewarded with ASUA
November 12, 2019 — ROANOKE, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band received the Army Superior Unit Award streamer from Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, VNG Assistant Adjutant General-Army, during a ceremony Nov. 9, 2019, before the Virginia Veterans Parade in Roanoke, Virginia... MORE

Events around the commonwealth honor veterans
November 12, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in Veterans Day observations across the commonwealth Nov. 11, 2019, to recognize the service of men and women past and present who served in the armed forces... MORE

AG delivers keynote address at Quantico National Cemetery Veterans Day Ceremony
November 11, 2019 — NOTE: The following are the prepared remarks of Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, for the Veterans Day observation at Quantico National Cemetery: Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Thank you so much for the introduction and for the opportunity to commemorate this important day. I have to specifically call out my good friend and fellow Hokie, Colonel Rich Anderson, the Chairman of the Potomac Region Veterans Council, for inviting me today... MORE

192nd Security Forces Squadron return from federal duty in Afghanistan
November 6, 2019 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Ten Virginia Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the 192nd Security Forces Squadron, 192nd Wing, returned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan on Oct. 23, 2019. ... MORE

Cree promoted to colonel, takes authority as USPFO
November 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Lt. Col. Jeffery R. Cree was promoted to colonel and assumed authority as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Virginia during a ceremony Nov. 1, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Cree succeeds Col. Marie M. Mahoney, who has served as the USPFO since 2013. ... MORE

Williams to succeed Volant as 91st Cyber Brigade commander
November 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Teri D. Williams will succeed Col. Adam Volant as the commander of the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade, according to an announcement made Nov. 5, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

192nd Maintenance Squadron welcomes new commander
October 30, 2019 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The 192nd Maintenance Squadron celebrated an assumption of command ceremony Oct. 5, 2019, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Lt. Col. Michael R. Gosma assumed command of the 192 MXS in front of family, leaders and squadron members... MORE

Ault Obstacle Course dedicated in name of VNG Soldier killed in Iraq
October 30, 2019 — Fort Pickett, Va. — Family, friends and current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers joined the leadership of Fort Pickett for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the Staff Sgt. Jesse Ault Wheeled Vehicle Obstacle Course Sept. 20, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Ault was killed in action April 9, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while assigned to the 429th Brigade Support Battalion. ... MORE

Dominion Energy pledges support of Guard employees during ceremony
October 30, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins and Virginia National Guard senior leaders attended a statement of support signing ceremony between Dominion Energy executives and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Oct. 17, 2019, at Dominion Energy’s new headquarters building in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Va. Army Guard selects top recruiters
October 30, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion held its end-of-year boards to name their top performers Oct. 11, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Dustin Haislip was named as the 2019 Rookie of the Year, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Fretwell was named the 2019 Recruiter of the Year, Master Sgt. Donnie Brizendine was named the 2019 Expert Seven of the Year, and Sgt. Austin Strutz was named the 2019 Active Duty Operational Support Person of the Year... MORE

Va. troop 2nd runner up in ARNG Honor Guard Soldier of Year competition
October 29, 2019 — RICHMOND, Virginia — Staff Sgt. Jason Cain, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the 29th Infantry Division Band who serves with the Virginia National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program, was the second runner up in the inaugural Army National Guard National Honor Guard Soldier of the Year competition and was honored by Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Advisor, Oct. 2, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. Kepner also recognized Cain as the ARNG National Honor Guard Soldier of the Quarter for the fourth quarter... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade’s fifth battalion to be stationed in Indiana
October 23, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. – The fifth battalion of the 91st Cyber Brigade will be stationed in Indianapolis, Indiana, according to an announcement made Oct. 22, 2019, by Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the director of the Army National Guard. The newly formed 127th Cyber Battalion will join the 123rd and 124th Cyber Battalions in Fairfax, Virginia, the 125th Cyber Battalion in Columbia, South Carolina, and 126th Cyber Battalion at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts... MORE

New 116th IBCT deputy commander and joint staff officers announced
October 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Christopher J. Samulski will be assigned as the new deputy commander of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to an announcement made Oct. 17, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Samulski replaces Col. Russell E. McGuire who is moving to be the J5 joint strategic plans officer on the Virginia National Guard Joint Staff, and Col. Charles B. Martin, Jr. will become the J3 joint operations officer. All the assignments are effective Nov. 1, 2019... MORE

VNG’s first female Bronze Star recipient shares story at women’s summit
October 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s most highly decorated female Soldier shared her combat experiences on stage at the Women’s Achieve Summit Oct. 15, 2019, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia. Sgt. Monica Beltran, the first VNG female to receive the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, spoke as part of a four-woman panel about breaking barriers. The discussion was led by celebrity host Queen Latifah... MORE

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