Virginia National Guard

Virginia National Guard to host Vigilant Guard emergency response exercise
May 2, 2018 — More than 2,000 National Guard personnel from six states and Washington, D.C., will take part in the Vigilant Guard 18-3 emergency response exercise May 7-10, 2018, at multiple locations in Virginia to improve their ability to respond to a natural disaster and enhance relationships with local, state and federal emergency response partners. The event will simulate a Category 4 hurricane making landfall in Virginia and exercise how the Virginia National Guard would assist in the state’s response with a full mobilization of personnel and coordination to bring in additional National Guard capabilities to help the state’s response effort... MORE

Virginia National Guard commissions four new officers
May 2, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed four newly-commissioned second lieutenants to its ranks April 29, 2018, during a commissioning ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The new lieutenants were all graduates of the Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 61A... MORE

Ring to succeed Griffin as Director of the Joint Staff
May 1, 2018 — Col. James W. Ring has been named to succeed Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin as the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff and will be promoted to brigadier general, according to an announcement made May 1, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Griffin will transition to a traditional Guard status and retire later this year after more than 30 years of service. Ring currently serves as the Virginia Army National Guard Chief of Staff, and his effective date as the Director of the Joint Staff is May 5... MORE

Top Virginia National Guard units, individuals recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 30, 2018 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard for high levels of readiness at the second annual Virginia Military Ball April 28, 2018, in Norfolk, Virginia. Outstanding Soldiers and Airmen were also recognized at an awards reception before the ball, as were Army units earning the Excellence in Training award... MORE

Virginia National Guard’s newest training venue nears opening date
April 28, 2018 — Construction was completed on the new training venue in the Old Hospital Area of Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center April 27, 2018. The new Structure Collapse Venue Site is intended to simulate a large building damaged by a natural disaster or a terrorist attack... MORE

Recruit Sustainment Program prepares new recruits for Basic, AIT
April 25, 2018 — Approximately 115 newly-recruited Virginia National Guard Soldiers came together for a regional training event held April 13-15, 2018, in Hanover, Virginia. The recruits were all part of the Recruit Sustainment Program, founded approximately 12 years ago. The RSP aims to increase troop readiness by bringing together new Soldiers before they ship to Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training and teaching them the basics of military service... MORE

116th IBCT staff conducts command post exercise to prepare for Warfighter
April 24, 2018 — More than 350 members of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in a command post exercise April 12-15, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

192nd Fighter Wing personnel apprentice wins Air Force-level award
April 19, 2018 — A member of the 192nd Fighter Wing Force Support Flight was awarded the 2017 U.S. Air Force Directorate of Manpower, Personnel and Services, or A1 installation-level Force Support Reserve Component Airman of the Year... MORE

First Lady, AG honor volunteers at annual Volunteer Training Workshop and Youth Symposium
April 18, 2018 — First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam joined Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, in honoring Virginia National Guard volunteers at the 2018 Virginia National Guard State Volunteer Recognition and Training Workshop April 15, 2018, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The annual two-day event recognizes and thanks volunteers for their efforts in support of family programs and includes training and information sessions on a variety of topics... MORE

Virginia Dept. of Military Affairs conducts continuity of operations exercise
April 15, 2018 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees conduced a continuity of operations exercise April 11-13, 2018, at the Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Tank, fighter jet added to displays at new JFHQ-VA HQs site
April 10, 2018 — Contractors working for the Virginia National Guard placed an M41 Walker Bulldog tank and an F-84 Thunderstreak fighter on display pads outside the site of the new Joint Force Headquarters – Virginia building April 8, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The tank and fighter jet join a UH-1 Huey helicopter and 105mm M101A1 towed howitzer on display outside the news headquarters building... MORE

29th Soldiers participate in ceremony honoring WWI veteran
April 7, 2018 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division participated in a memorial tree planting ceremony to honor the memory of Pvt. Herman Davis, a decorated World War I veteran, March 4, 2018, in Manila, Arkansas. The ceremony commemorates the 100th anniversary of Davis’s enlistment into Company I, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division... MORE

VDF plans to expand capabilities, continue building partnerships
April 7, 2018 — The Virginia Defense Force is making plans to expand its capabilities and continue to build partnerships in order to better support their fellow Virginians. The all-volunteer reserve of the Virginia National Guard is looking to grow from its current strength of approximately 300 personnel to its full authorized strength of 750, add additional mission sets and continue discussions with organizations such as the Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for training and exercise opportunities... MORE

Epperly to succeed Ortner as commander of 29th Infantry Division
April 5, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly will succeed Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner as the commander of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made April 5, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment was effective April 5... MORE

Task Force Echo is an Army Cyber success story
April 5, 2018 — Task Force Echo, an Army National Guard formation comprised of more than 140 Soldiers from seven states — California, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia and Utah — held an award ceremony to honor and recognize the service of these cyber warriors March 27, 2018, at Fort Meade, Maryland... MORE

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