Virginia National Guard

Fort Pickett Fire and Rescue hosts firefighter instructor course
March 6, 2019 — Fort Pickett, Va. — Firefighters from multiple departments in central Virginia are learning how to teach the region’s future recruits how to become firefighters during the Fire Instructor I class at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 42-hour course, hosted by Fort Pickett Fire and Rescue, teaches the students the proper method for teaching firefighting skills to potential new firefighters. The current class is set to graduate March 13, 2019... MORE

WOCs scrub, scratch during their community project
March 6, 2019 — CHESTER, Va. — Warrant Officer Candidates assigned to Class 19-001 of the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School, taught at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, assisted in sprucing up Smitty’s Cat Rescue, Feb. 23, 2019, to complete their community project requirement in Chester, Virginia... MORE

CERFP conducts confirmation exercise with info management system
March 2, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia and Washington, D.C., National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package, also known as CERFP, conducted a confirmation exercise with the National Guard CBRN Response Enterprise Information Management System Feb. 28, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The system provides a suite of software applications and end-user devices similar to smart phones and tablets which allow personnel to easily share information and help maintain a common operating picture during response operations... MORE

Fort Pickett Gym reopens after $1 million renovation
March 1, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After months of renovations, the Fort Pickett Gym is back open again. The gym reopened its doors to eligible service members, families and service and state employees Feb. 22, 2019. A grand reopening celebration is being planned for mid to late March... MORE

HHB, 29th ID troops take top honors at VNG Best Warrior Competition
February 26, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division took home top honors at the annual Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition Feb. 24, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Spc. Esther Alger of Front Royal was named Soldier of the Year and Sgt. 1st Class Paul Bosserman of Harrisonburg earned the title of NCO of the Year after three mentally and physically grueling days of competition against Soldiers and NCOs from six different VNG major subordinate commands... MORE

VNG family, youth volunteer receive national recognition for volunteer service
February 22, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia National Guard family was recognized as the 2018 Army National Guard Family of the Year and a volunteer was recognized with the Extra Mile Award in an announcement published Feb. 13, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Kevin L. McNeely, the Director of J1 Manpower and Personnel at National Guard Bureau... MORE

VNG Soldiers, NCOs to compete in Best Warrior Competition
February 21, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The top Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from the Virginia Army National Guard’s major commands will compete in the Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition Feb. 21-24, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Richmond’s 19th century African-American armory part of VNG history
February 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Just a few miles from the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, stands an imposing brick structure resembling a medieval fortress in the historic African-American neighborhood of Jackson Ward, just north of downtown Richmond. ... MORE

SMP cadets hone leadership, Soldier skills with help from 183rd RTI
February 20, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program allows ROTC cadets participating in their university’s ROTC program to also serve in the Virginia National Guard. During the past several months, those cadets enrolled in the SMP have been training with cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The training is part of a pilot program designed to increase their leadership skills and prepare them for significant training events later this year... MORE

Virginia’s Newest Ranger recognized at Washington Capitals Game
February 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Just a few days before graduating from his initial training to become an infantryman, Virginia National Guard Soldier Pfc. Gavin Asbury was offered the chance to go to Ranger School. He’d tried to show initiative during his training, had scored high on his physical fitness assessments and exceeded the standard during his training at Fort Benning. His drill sergeants noticed his success and recommended he, along with a handful of his peers, take their training to the next level and try for a spot at Ranger School... MORE

Whitt selected as new 329th RSG command sergeant major
February 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. – Command Sgt. Maj. Dempsey O. Whitt was selected to serve as the new 329th Regional Support Group command sergeant major, according to an announcement made Jan. 1, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Whitt succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. E. Tim Miller, who retired Dec. 7, 2018, after 30 years of service to the Virginia National Guard... MORE

Efforts underway to digitize VNG’s WWI personnel records
February 19, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has a wealth of historic personnel records of Virginians who were among the first troops called to serve in World War I, and efforts are currently underway to digitize those records for online access... MORE

Ryan promoted, takes command of Virginia Air National Guard
February 16, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Jeffrey L. Ryan was officially promoted to brigadier general Feb. 15, 2019, during a ceremony at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, and took command of the Virginia Air National Guard. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced Feb. 6, 2019, that Ryan would succeed Brig. Gen. Marshall Kjelvik as the VNG Air Component Commander effective Feb. 5. Ryan most recently served as the vice commander of the 192nd Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton... MORE

Family bonds help military couple separated by deployment
February 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — This Valentine’s Day, Capt. Rachel Billmyer is deployed overseas with the 529th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion. Her fiancé, Capt. Joshua Morgan, is here in Virginia, working full-time as a program manager for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs while commanding the Virginia National Guard’s 237th Engineer Company. Both Billmyer and Morgan are familiar with the deployment process. “I’m the third person in my family to deploy since 2014,” Billmyer said. Both her parents serve in the National Guard and Morgan’s father retired a few years ago and all three have deployed within the past several years... MORE

VNG Youth Program searching for volunteers
February 14, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard Youth Program is searching for engaging, dedicated individuals who are passionate about working with National Guard Youth to volunteer at their events and camps throughout the next year. The Youth Program relies on a core network of trained, background-checked volunteers. These volunteers provide program assistance with deployment events, photography and social media support, and assist with administrative tasks... MORE

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