Virginia National Guard > News

Major update to state awards regulations published
October 23, 2025 — Effective immediately, the Virginia National Guard has updated its primary regulation governing state military awards to reflect procedural changes and introduce new recognitions...

ChalleNGe welcomes guests for Class 63 Family Day
October 22, 2025 — The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy welcomed families and friends of Class 63 cadets to Family Day Oct. 18, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cadets conducted a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration before enjoying several hours with their families and friends, who were invited to tour classrooms and living spaces, as well as meet ChalleNGe teachers and cadre...

VaARNG NCO receives direct commission
October 21, 2025 — Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to witness a defining moment in the military career of Trevor W. Dunkle, as he was promoted from sergeant first class to second lieutenant through the highly-selective direct commission program Oct. 18, 2025, in Richmond, Virginia. ...

VaANG team observes Finnish Air Force agile combat employment tactics
October 20, 2025 — A contingent of Virginia Air National Guard personnel recently spent time observing PROTECTIVE FENCE 2025, a major exercise conducted by the Finnish Air Force to test its air component readiness Sept. 22 - 26, 2025, in Finland. ...

Red Dragons participate in Finnish sniper competition
October 20, 2025 — A team of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the HÄYHÄ Finnish Sniper Competition Sept. 5 - 7, 2025, in Pahkajärvi, Finland. ...

116th IBCT officially converted to mobile brigade combat team
October 17, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was officially converted to the 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team effective Oct. 16, 2025, by the Army Structure Memorandum, commonly referred to as the ARSTRUC...

VNG participates in counter-mobility operations exchange in Finland
October 3, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in the Finnish Engineer Platoon Counter-Mobility Operations 25 course Aug. 25 - 29, 2025, at the Kainuu Brigade in Kajaani, Finland...

VaARNG Soldiers conduct CBRN exercise in Finland
September 30, 2025 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 229th Chemical Company, 329th Regional Support Group, and Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exchange with members of the Finnish Defense Forces during Exercise Karelian Stronghold Sept. 1 - 5, 2025, near Helsinki, Finland. ...

VNG celebrates graduates of OCS Class 67, 68A, 68B
September 23, 2025 — Nine officer candidates graduated from the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Sept. 14, 2025, in a ceremony at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The event brought together friends, family and leaders at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute to celebrate the accomplishments of both OCS Class 67 and 68B, and also marked the graduation of Class 68A, who completed their OCS experience earlier this year. Throughout the ceremony, the 29th Infantry Division Band provided musical accompaniment. ...

VaARNG Funeral Honors team provides training to active-duty Soldiers
September 19, 2025 — Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program provided funeral honors training to active-duty Soldiers assigned to the Joint Base Langley-Eustis-based 7th Transportation Brigade Aug. 25 – Sept. 5, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The MFH Program Soldiers provided two separate, week-long training iterations to two groups of 7th Transportation Brigade Soldiers...

VNG mobilizes personnel for admin, logistics support to ICE
September 19, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard mobilized approximately 40 Soldiers and Airmen Sept. 15, 2025, with a mission to provide administrative and logistics support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at locations across the state. ...

Cyber operators train for response, mitigation at Cyber Fortress 25
September 19, 2025 — National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force partnered with military and civilian cyber operators Aug. 2-17, 2025, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during Cyber Fortress 25...

Ceremony formalizes return of 29th ID DIVARTY
September 18, 2025 — The Virginia National Guard formally re-activated the 29th Infantry Division Artillery, or DIVARTY, during a ceremony Sept. 6, 2025, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony featuring the uncasing of colors for DIVARTY and DIVARTY’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery...

180th Engineers begin federal active duty mobilization
September 18, 2025 — Approximately 130 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group marked the beginning of their federal active duty mobilization with a departure ceremony Sept. 8, 2025, in Powhatan, Virginia. ...

VaANG’s Bosslift event enhances military-civilian partnerships
September 11, 2025 — Strengthening ties between the military and civilian sectors, the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, hosted the 2025 Bosslift event on Sept. 6 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Organized by the VaANG Military and Family Readiness office and the Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, this event provided civilian employers with an opportunity to experience firsthand the training and dedication of their Air National Guard employees. The 2025 Bosslift, part of the Virginia ESGR outreach, aimed to bridge the gap between civilian workplaces and National Guard responsibilities...

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category