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Virginia NCO & Maryland Soldier named best warriors in the region
May 22, 2018 — The 2018 Region II Best Warrior Competition brought Soldiers and NCOs from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. to Fort Pickett May 17-20, 2018. After days of physical and mental challenges that had the region’s best Soldiers leaping over obstacles, knocking down targets and testing their military knowledge, Virginia National Guardsman Sgt. Jake Moyer was named the region’s top noncommissioned officer, while Maryland’s Spc. Gerald Villamar was named the top Soldier. The winners from the regional competition will go on to compete at the national level this summer... MORE

Contracting Teams conduct training exercise at Fort Belvoir
May 15, 2018 — Ten Virginia Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 1945th Contingency Contracting Team, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a multi-component operational contract support culminating training event May 1-11, 2018, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard cuts ribbon at new state headquarters
May 14, 2018 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, members of the Virginia Defense Force, friends and family members joined distinguished guests at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters building May 14, 2018, at Defense Supply Center Richmond in Chesterfield County, Virginia. U.S. Senator Mark Warner, First Lady of Virginia Pamela Northam, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Brig. Gen. Linda S. Hurry, commander of Defense Supply Center Richmond, joined Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Ferris, Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, in forming the official party who cut the ribbon on the new facility. The 102,000 square foot, $30 million building is the first structure purpose built to serve as a headquarters for the Virginia National Guard in its 411 year history... MORE

Vigilant Guard exercise prepares Virginia National Guard, partners for hurricane season
May 12, 2018 — More than 2,000 National Guard personnel from six states and Washington, D.C., took part in the Vigilant Guard 18-3 emergency response exercise May 7-10, 2018, at multiple locations in Virginia. The goal of the exercise was to improve response to a natural disaster and enhance relationships with local, state and federal emergency response partners. It simulated a Category 4 hurricane making landfall in Virginia and exercised 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

Officer candidates prep for final phase of OCS
May 7, 2018 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Officer candidates from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., spent a long weekend in May preparing for the third and final phase of Officer Candidate School during a regional Field Level Exercise held May 4-6, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Approximately 30 National Guard officer candidates from Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., train together during a regional Field Level Exercise May 5, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exercise aimed to prepare the candidates for the third and final phase of Office Candidate School, which they will attend later this summer. (U.S. National Guard photo by Terra C. Gatti)

Officer candidates prep for final phase of OCS
May 7, 2018 — Officer candidates from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., spent a long weekend in May preparing for the third and final phase of Officer Candidate School during a regional Field Level Exercise held May 4-6, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VDF supports local law enforcement at Winchester festival
May 7, 2018 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force operated traffic control points and provided mission command support May 4-5, 2018, at the 91st Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Members of the all-volunteer VDF from units across the state assisted local law enforcement in keeping traffic moving and operated more than 50 TCPs during a variety of events over the two days. The VDF also took advantage of the mission to train on multiple communication systems and rehearse administrative, mission command and logistics procedures they would use if they were called to state active duty to augment the Virginia National Guard... MORE

Epperly takes command of 29th Infantry Division
May 6, 2018 — Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly took command of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, Army National Guard, from Maj. Gen. Blake C. Ortner during a traditional change of command ceremony May 5, 2018, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Ortner to Epperly... MORE

203rd RED HORSE welcomes new commander
May 3, 2018 — After more than four years of serving as commander of the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, Lt. Col. J. Stock Dinsmore relinquished command to Lt. Col. Jeffrey E. Getz during a change of command ceremony April 14, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reserve in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard commissions four new officers
May 2, 2018 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — 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

Second Lt. Abando A. Nkwanyou receives his lieutenant bars during a commissioning ceremony held April 29, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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

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