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New 34th CERFP Soldiers, Airmen attend CERFP University
December 8, 2020 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Soldiers and Airmen of the Virginia National Guard’s Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP (pronounced “surf-p”) conducted an initial entry training event Nov. 30 through Dec. 4, 2020, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia to instruct their newest Soldiers and Airmen on the basics of incident management and emergency response...

VDF conducts statewide response exercise
December 7, 2020 — LYNCHBURG, Va. — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted the Highland Guardian field training exercise Nov. 7, 2020, at multiple locations across Virginia to test their regional liaison, incident management assistance and interoperable communications support capabilities...

Batterton to succeed Piper as the commander of 192nd Wing
December 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. -- Col. Christopher G. Batterton will succeed Col. Mark Piper as the commander of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing based at Langley Air Force Base, according to an announcement made Nov. 6, 2020, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment is effective Jan. 3, 2021...

Soldier's 80-lb weight loss journey leads to military service
December 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — When he was 17, Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson struggled with his weight. At 5 feet, 7 inches tall, he weighed in at around 250 pounds. “Over the years, I had been made fun of, bullied, talked about, put down, denied certain extracurricular activities, criticized, etcetera because of my weight,” Jackson said. None of that did much to boost his self-esteem or confidence, but eventually he decided to try out for his high school’s basketball team...

HART partnership cited as career highlight for participants
December 1, 2020 — CHESTERFIELD, Va. — For nearly a decade, Virginia National Guard flight crews have worked alongside technicians from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team. Over those many years, the two organizations created, built and grew Virginia’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART. Since the program’s inception in 2011, the HART has deployed for hurricane response, flown countless hours over the waterways and landscapes of Virginia and now boasts approximately 20 trained technicians. ...

Gallagher discusses importance of mentorship at DMA event
December 1, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Land Component Commander, spoke to participants in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Workforce Development Mentoring Program during an event Nov. 19, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ...

Dual military couple says finding each other is best military perk
November 17, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The challenges of being a dual-military couple are balanced by the benefits. On one hand, couples share the experience of military service, which can be a foundation for strength for many. On the other hand, these couples face the challenge of juggling two military careers with the demands of family life...

Veterans Day honors service, sacrifice
November 16, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Because of the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia National Guard participation in Veterans Day events was greatly reduced, but the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Armed Forces was still honored and recognized...

IVAS draws Army senior leaders to MTC Fort Pickett
November 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. -- Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett played host to United States Department of Defense and Army leadership in October 2020, as they visited Soldier Touchpoint 3 of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) training at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ...

Martin assumes command of 192nd Support Squadron
November 16, 2020 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Support Squadron gained a new commander, Maj. Fallon Martin, during an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 8, 2020, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia...

Upgrade: Popular range at MTC gets major renovation
November 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After a nearly year-long renovation project, the Multi-Purpose Range Complex at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, Virginia, was formally reopened with a ceremony Nov. 6, 2020...

New Soldier & Family Readiness Program provides true one-stop shop for VNG Soldiers, family members
November 13, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. -- In recent months, Virginia National Guard Family Programs has undergone significant changes. The Soldier and Family Readiness Program has transitioned to one all encompassing program to provide assistance and support to Soldiers and their families. This has taken place with programs nationwide and has been put into effect by National Guard Bureau...

VDF welcomes new command sergeant major
November 10, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) Tony Kegley took responsibility as the Virginia Defense Force command sergeant major from Command Sgt. Maj. (Va.) Alan Grandis Nov. 7, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Col. (Va.) David James, the VDF deputy commander, presided over the ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors representing the change of responsibility from Grandis to Kegley...

VaARNG, VDF chaplains celebrate ongoing partnership
November 6, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Chaplains from the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Defense Force recognized the retirement of Lt. Col. (Va.) David C. Lagerveld, the VDF’s senior chaplain, and the ongoing partnership with VDF chaplains providing support at Fort Pickett during a lunch held in October in the Richmond area...

VNG Soldiers, Airmen continue COVID-19 response support
November 5, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to conduct COVID-19 response mission support across the commonwealth, providing key testing sample collection and personal protective equipment fit testing capabilities in support of the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Emergency Management. ...

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