Virginia National Guard

34th CST trains with federal, state and local authorities
September 30, 2017 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team joined members of the FBI, the Virginia State Police and local law enforcement in a scenario-based training exercise Oct. 24, 2017, in Glen Allen, Virginia. The exercise, dubbed Marble Challenge and led by the FBI, aimed to increase cohesion between the participating agencies. The 34th CST is a response force capable of responding to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incident. At the exercise, they provided reconnaissance and decontamination support, assisted in collecting and identifying samples and supported incident command... MORE

First group of Virginia National Guard Soldiers departs for U.S. Virgin Islands
September 25, 2017 — The first group of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team departed for the U.S Virgin Islands Sept. 24, 2017, from Blackstone Army Airfield in Blackstone, Virginia, to join a multi-state, multi-agency response effort to recent hurricanes. The Soldiers will serve as a mission command headquarters and synchronize all National Guard operations assisting with recovery effort, and additional Soldiers from multiple units from across the commonwealth will continue to deploy in the coming days to provide additional assistance... MORE

VDF evaluates response teams across the commonwealth
September 24, 2017 — Virginia Defense Force response teams deploy to multiple locations in the commonwealth Sept. 23, 2017, for Purple Guardian 2017 MayHem, an exercise designed to simulate the support the VDF provides to the Virginia National Guard during state active duty. Teams providing operations center augmentation, high frequency radio communications and incident management assistance as well as mobile communication platform trailers were deployed to Fort Pickett, Sandston, Lynchburg and Culpeper for a scenario-driven evaluation of personnel and equipment to include set up and exercise of organic communications equipment... MORE

Lobash to command 192nd Fighter Wing
September 20, 2017 — Col. Frank J. Lobash will succeed Col. Stephen H. Bunting as the commander of the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing, according to an announcement made Sept. 20, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The change of command will be effective Nov. 1, 2017... MORE

Virginia Guard indirect fire infantrymen train on new mobile kit for 120mm mortars
September 20, 2017 — Virginia National Guard indirect fire infantrymen trained on the newly-fielded M326 120mm Mortar Stowage Kit, or MSK, and executed fire missions Sept. 16, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The M326 MSK is a trailer-mounted system allowing Soldiers to quickly emplace, fire and stow the fully-assembled, 300-pound 120mm mortar... MORE

Virginia hosts first Crew-Served Weapons Course at Fort Pickett
September 19, 2017 — Instructors assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute taught Virginia’s first-ever Crew-Served Weapons Course Sept. 11-15, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Twenty-eight Soldiers from units across the state attended the course, which focused on the M249 light machine gun and the M240B machine gun while aiming to improve machine gun proficiency across the force. ... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade activated as Army National Guard’s first cyber brigade
September 17, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard activated the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade as the Army National Guard’s first cyber brigade at a ceremony Sept. 17, 2017, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The new brigade provides training and readiness oversight for cyber units across 30 states and deploys personnel to meet the demands of growing cyber mission sets throughout the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and members of his cabinet joined Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, Director of the Army National Guard, Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, as well as numerous other senior military and civilian leaders, fellow Soldiers and family members for the ceremony activating the brigade, also known as the Shadow Brigade... MORE

Lynchburg-based infantry battalion receives national training, marksmanship awards
September 13, 2017 — Lt. Col. Christopher Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed accepted the Reckord Trophy for training excellence on behalf of the Soldiers of the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Sept. 10, 2017, at the National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. NGAUS presents the Reckord Trophy each year to the Army National Guard battalion that achieves the highest state of readiness in the country. The command team for the Bedford-based Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment also accepted the Pershing Plaque for marksmanship excellence... MORE

Va. National Guard helicopters support Hurricane Harvey recovery
September 7, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard sent approximately 40 Soldiers and six helicopters to Texas to assist with Hurricane Harvey recovery operations Aug. 31, 2017, and after transporting medical personnel and supplies, they safely returned to Virginia Sept. 6. With the Texas National Guard shifting operations from search and rescue to critical life support and logistics support, the helicopters and crews were able to return to Virginia to be ready for possible impacts from Hurricane Irma. Three rescue technicians from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Service Scuba Rescue Team also deployed with the Guard... MORE

Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen shoot at regional match
September 6, 2017 — A group of 14 Soldiers and Airmen participated in a regional marksmanship match Aug. 25-27, 2017, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The match included shooters from two regions – Marksmanship Advisory Council Region I and II – and included approximately 120 shooters. ... MORE

Camp Pendleton receives Army Environmental Award from Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
September 3, 2017 — Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Eugene Collins presented the 2016 Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for Cultural Resource Management in the small installation category to Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and the staffs of the Virginia National Guard Environmental Office and Camp Pendleton Collective Training Center Aug. 31, 2017, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The award is the highest honor in the field of environmental science and sustainability conferred by the Army... MORE

1-111th completes transformation with howitzer live fire
August 30, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team live fired new M777A2 howitzers and upgraded M119A3 howitzers during their two weeks of annual training Aug. 17-31, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to complete their transformation into a composite field artillery battalion. As part of the battalion’s transformation, two firing batteries upgraded their howitzers to a newer model, and a third firing battery was activated to field a larger caliber howitzer... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 47 graduates 116 cadets
August 28, 2017 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 116 cadets from Class 47 in a ceremony held Aug. 26, 2017, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj . Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia; Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Director of the Joint Staff of the Virginia National Guard; and retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, Director of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy, congratulated the cadets on finishing the five-and-a-half month residential portion of the program... MORE

Virginia Guard OCS commissions 29 new officers
August 28, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 29 new second lieutenants from Officer Candidate School Classes 59 and 60B Aug. 26, 2017, at a commissioning ceremony held at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, administered the oath of office to the graduates, and Governor Terry McAuliffe and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran joined Williams in congratulating the new lieutenants in earning their commissions and thanking their families for their support. Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives, offered advice to the new officers on how to succeed in their upcoming leadership positions... MORE

Street sign unveiled in honor of the 54th FA Brigade centennial
August 17, 2017 — Virginia Army National Guard leaders unveiled a new road sign honoring the 54th Field Artillery Brigade Aug. 12, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during the observation of the unit’s 100th anniversary... MORE

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