Virginia National Guard

WTC brings Air Assault, Pathfinder School to Fort Pickett
September 10, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — As the sun rose on Fort Pickett’s Air Assault Obstacle Course Aug. 13, 2019, several hundred Soldiers were steaming in the morning’s muggy heat from their first physical challenge of the day, a two-mile run. That was just the beginning. From there, 238 Soldiers, plus a few Airmen and Sailors, tackled the obstacle course, challenging their strength, endurance and mental toughness as they climbed up, over, around and through nine obstacles. Those who were successful, earned a seat in Air Assault School; those who weren’t, went home... MORE

VNG among public safety organizations recognized on Virginia First Responders Day
September 8, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard is among the organizations recognized by Virginia House Resolution 646 designating September 11, 2019, as First Responders Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The resolution calls for the designation to continue each succeeding year... MORE

Virginia National Guard OCS graduates and commissions 11 new officers
September 7, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 11 new second lieutenants from Officer Candidate School Class 61 and 62B in a combined commissioning ceremony held Aug. 17, 2019, at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. Lt. Col. James C. Shaver Jr., 3rd Battalion, 183rd RTI commander, administered the oath of office to the graduates, and Col. Todd Hubbard, 183rd RTI commander, introduced and welcomed the guest speaker, retired Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the former assistant adjutant general of Virginia. Mercer asked the newly commissioned officers to reflect on what led them to become officers... MORE

Virginia National Guard staged, ready for possible response to Hurricane Dorian
September 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 60 Soldiers and 20 vehicles for state emergency support duty Sept. 5, 2019, in the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads areas, and they are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies respond to potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian. The Soldiers are staged with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks for high water transportation and also have chain saws for debris reduction. The VNG also has two rotary wing aviation rescue hoist crews on standby... MORE

Virginia National Guard staged and ready for possible response to Hurricane Dorian

192nd Operations Group welcomes new commander
September 4, 2019 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Col. Christopher G. Batterton, former 192nd Wing vice commander, took command of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Operations Group, 192nd Wing from Col. Darren P. Gray, Aug. 10, 2019, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Guard hosts NGB GIS training courses
September 4, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia National Guard hosted geographic information system training for more than two dozen National Guard Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and contractors from 10 states and territories Aug. 26- 30, 2019, at State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 51 graduates 118 cadets
August 27, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 118 cadets from Class 51 August 24, 2019, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, Chief Operations Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, joined Mark Chicoine, director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, in congratulating the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half-month program... MORE

1032nd TC Soldiers haul cargo during annual training
August 23, 2019 — GATE CITY, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Gate City-based 1032nd Transportation Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group embarked on a real-world line haul mission for their annual training Aug. 1-17, 2019, carrying ammunition from the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma... MORE

Boyd assumes command of Virginia State Medical Command
August 17, 2019 — Lt. Col. David G. Boyd took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Medical Command from Col. Thomas E. Koertge, Aug. 5, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Col. James A. Zollar, chief of staff for the Virginia National Guard, presided over the exchange of organizational colors representing the transfer of authority from Koertge to Boyd... MORE

192nd Wing change of command marks start of new era for VaANG
August 16, 2019 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The 192nd Wing welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Aug. 11, 2019, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Ryan, Air Component Commander, Virginia National Guard, presided over the ceremony where Col. Frank J. Lobash relinquished command to Col. Mark D. Piper... MORE

192nd Wing change of command ceremony photos

Army Reserve engineers train for future mobilization at Fort Pickett
August 16, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — United States Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the Indiana, Pennsylvania-based 420th Engineer Company, 458th Engineer Battalion, 411th Engineer Brigade, conducted counter-improvised explosive device and route clearance training July 13-31, 2019, as part of their annual training at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 420th is scheduled for an upcoming federal mobilization next year... MORE

Paintball leads to enlistment to follow in father’s footsteps
August 16, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As soon as Pfc. Adrianna S. Apelt put on her father’s old Army uniform to play paintball, she knew. “I saw myself in the mirror and realized this was what I was supposed to do,” she exclaimed. “It just fit!” Two months later, during her senior year at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, Apelt joined the Virginia Army National Guard... MORE

STARBASE staff provide STEM instruction to VNG Youth Camp, ChalleNGe cadets
August 16, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia — Staff from the Winchester-based STARBASE Academy traveled to Virginia Beach to provide hands-on instruction to more than 60 sons and daughters of Virginia National Guard Airmen and Soldiers at the Virginia National Guard’s 14th Annual Youth Camp July 27 – Aug. 2, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach... MORE

Norfolk armory named in honor of VNG D-Day combat medic
August 14, 2019 — NORFOLK, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Norfolk armory was officially named the Chief Warrant Officer 4 Arnold Lindblad Armory during a ceremony Aug. 14, 2019, in Norfolk, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, hosted the ceremony, which was attended by Lindblad’s son, retired VNG Master Sgt. Steve Lindblad, and other family members, as well as other senior Guard leaders... MORE

14th Annual Youth Summer Camp blasts off in Virginia Beach
August 8, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 60 Virginia National Guard youth joined teen and adult volunteers at the Virginia National Guard’s 14th Annual Youth Camp, held July 27 – Aug. 2, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach... MORE

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