Virginia National Guard

VDF trains on security tasks, conducts commo exercise with CAP
July 18, 2018 — More than 150 members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted communications and security operations training July 13-15, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The security training focused on a variety of access control scenarios, and the communications training featured a first-ever ground-to-air communications test with the Virginia Civil Air Patrol... MORE

Flora takes charge of Virginia Army National Guard
July 16, 2018 — Leadership of the Virginia Army National Guard transferred from Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer to Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora during a ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, July 14, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Mercer will retire after more than 35 years of military service, but he will continue to serve in a civilian position as the Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs... MORE

Gillis to command 329th Regional Support Group
July 14, 2018 — Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr. will take command of the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group from Col. K. Weedon Gallagher, according to an announcement made July 12, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

Virginia Beach-based 529th CSSB ordered to mobilize for federal active duty in November 2018
July 12, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group has received a mobilization order to enter federal active service for duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, according to an announcement made July 12, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Approximately 70 Soldiers will begin serving on federal active duty in November 2018, and when they arrive in the Middle East they will operate as a mission command headquarters with the task of planning and executing logistics support for U.S. and coalition forces in the Central Command area of operations... MORE

Bissell takes command of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo
July 11, 2018 — The NATO Headquarters Transfer of Authority ceremony took place July 9, 2018, between the incoming commander U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Marti J. Bissell and the outgoing commander U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Huston. Huston said he was departing with an even greater sense of optimism and faith in the people of this country, and the knowledge that working together is the key to making difference... MORE

Va. National Guard aviation battalion trains around the state
July 10, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division trained on squad and platoon-level proficiency, door gunnery, personnel recovery, downed aircraft recovery and basic Soldier skills from June 2-16, 2018, at sites including Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett and the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. ... MORE

192nd Security Forces Squadron trains to shoot, move and communicate
June 30, 2018 — Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the 192nd Security Forces Squadron conducted and participated in a small team, combat arms live-fire exercise June 23, 2018, at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The Airmen trained in a simulated urban environment using non-lethal ammunition to achieve a high level of realism in their training... MORE

Virginia cyber warriors join New England exercise
June 28, 2018 — Fourteen Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fairfax-based 123rd and 124th Cyber Protection Battalions, 91st Cyber Brigade participated in the Cyber Yankee network defense exercise May 31-June 12, 2018, at Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts National Guard hosts the annual exercise focused on developing stronger collaboration across all New England’s cyber network defenses, and more than 200 Soldiers and Airmen took part in the training... MORE

192nd Fighter Wing welcomes new wing command chief
June 27, 2018 — The 192nd Fighter Wing welcomed a new wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Christopher L. Amburn, June 23, 2018, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Flora to succeed Mercer as Assistant Adjutant General – Army
June 27, 2018 — Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora will succeed Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer as the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Army, according to an announcement made June 18, 2018, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Flora currently serves as Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives and will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin. Mercer will retire after more than 35 years of military service, but he will continue to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs. A transfer of responsibility ceremony between Flora and Mercer is scheduled for July 14... MORE

Virginia Guard hosts NGB GIS training course
June 27, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard hosted more than two dozen National Guard Airmen, Soldiers and civilians from more than six states and territories for geographic information system training June 11-15, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Soldiers, Airmen awarded for marksmanship excellence
June 27, 2018 — Sixty-four Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in this year’s Adjutant General’s State Pistol Match, held June 22-24, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The event, hosted by the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, had shooters split into 16 teams of four to test their marksmanship skills against some of the best shooters in the state and the nation. On Sunday, the top shooters gathered at the RTI for an awards ceremony that recognized the year’s top team and individual competitors... MORE

Hubbard takes command of 183rd RTI
June 26, 2018 — Col. Todd Hubbard took command of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute from Col. James A. Zollar June 24, 2018, in a traditional change of command ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, Assistant Adjutant General – Army for the Virginia National Guard, presided over the guidon exchange that signified the transfer of command from Zollar to Hubbard... MORE

149th Fighter Squadron celebrates its 71st year
June 23, 2018 — The 149th Fighter Squadron, the oldest unit assigned to the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing, celebrated its 71st year as a fighter squadron June 21, 2018, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The squadron was federally recognized June 21, 1947. The 149th FS is an F-22A Raptor air dominance and T-38 Talon adversary air squadron... MORE

DMA conducts its first-ever Supervisor Course
June 18, 2018 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs conducted its first-ever Supervisor Course June 4-7, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The class was held at Fort Pickett, but may be conducted at other locations in the future... MORE

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