Virginia National Guard

Soldiers, Airmen train on communications system in Onancock
July 15, 2016 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the information technology and communication sections of the Virginia National Guard joint staff and Army Guard staff train on the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability July 13, 2016, in Onancock, Virginia. The JISCC is an advanced communications system that can be rapidly deployed to an incident location and uses secure satellite connections to provide the Guard and first responders with high speed internet, voice-over-IP telephones and high frequency radio communications... MORE

Red Dragons take over security mission in Qatar
July 13, 2016 — Two Virginia Army National Guard units charged with the responsibility for security at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, conducted a Relief In Place/Transfer of Authority ceremony July 11, 2016. Soldiers from the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, also known as the Red Dragons, assumed responsibility for the mission from the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, also known as Task Force Normandy... MORE

29th ID leads multinational exercise, Saber Strike 16
July 11, 2016 — More than 20 Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division traveled to Europe to participate in Saber Strike 16 June 4-22, 2016, in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania... MORE

Brig. Gen. Blake C. Ortner, commanding general of the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division and exercise director of Saber Strike 16, speaks with Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube, the Latvian Chief of Defence, June 9, 2016, in Valka-Valga, a border town between Latvia and Estonia.

Fort Pickett maintenance site wins 2015 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence
July 10, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site has been selected for a 2015 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence in the Army National Guard Table of Distribution and Allowance Category, according to announcement made July 6, 2016... MORE

Volunteer recognized with regional award
July 8, 2016 — Brig. Gen. Paul Griffin, the Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, recognized Krystin Kelley as the 2015 Volunteer of the Year for Region 3 July 6, 2016, in Sandston, Virginia. Joining Griffin for the presentation were Vickie Sais, State Family Programs director, Lt. Col. Rusty McGuire, commander of 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th IBCT, her husband Spc. Christopher E. Kelley and their niece. Each year the National Guard Bureau Family Programs Office recognizes one adult volunteer from each of the 10 regions who shows outstanding and exceptional service... MORE

Virginia Soldiers recover World War I German mortar
July 8, 2016 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Richmond-based Combined Support Maintenance Shop recovered a World War I era German mortar that had been lost for more than 40 years July 7, 2016, near Petersburg, Virginia... MORE

Va. Defense Force continues to build communications expertise
June 28, 2016 — Virginia Defense Force units across the commonwealth took part in the United Resolve communications exercise which brought together multiple state defense forces, emergency communications professionals and amateur radio operators June 25, 2016, to share knowledge and improve their capabilities to communicate using a variety of systems... MORE

Zollar takes command of 183rd RTI
June 27, 2016 — Col. James A. Zollar takes command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute from Col. Thomas L. Morgan, III, June 26, 2016, in a traditional change of command ceremony at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General – Army, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Morgan to Zollar... MORE

Pillion takes command of Camp Pendleton
June 26, 2016 — Lt. Col. Timothy Pillion took command of Camp Pendleton Collective Training Center from Lt. Col. Elena Scarbrough during a traditional change of command ceremony June 23, 2016, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Army, presided over the exchange of colors that represented the transfer of command from Scarbrough to Pillion... MORE

Pillion takes command of Camp Pendleton
June 26, 2016 — Lt. Col. Timothy Pillion took command of Camp Pendleton Collective Training Center from Lt. Col. Elena Scarbrough during a traditional change of command ceremony June 23, 2016, in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Va. National Guard personnel assist flood response operations in Alleghany, Botetourt counties
June 25, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard activated 20 Soldiers with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to assist with flood response operations in Alleghany and Botetourt counties June 24, 2016, after the Governor of Virginia declared a state of emergency the night before. Soldiers from the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team quickly responded and were on location and ready for duty within 12 hours of the start of alert notifications... MORE

Va. National Guard personnel assist flood response operations in Alleghany and Botetourt counties

116th IBCT Soldiers demonstrate training proficiency during AT
June 22, 2016 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team demonstrated a high level of proficiency that met and exceeded expectations for their “ready year” during annual training June 4-18, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. With two battalions on federal mobilization and multiple companies having conducted training center rotations earlier in the year, the brigade had a smaller footprint on the ground at Fort Pickett, but all of those Soldiers demonstrated they would have been ready to go if called... MORE

Annual training for 276th Engineers builds on the basics
June 22, 2016 — Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command built on the basics to improve on squad and team integration with hands on training with engineer equipment and demolitions in tactical environment during the annual training June 4-18, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Engineers replaced culverts and repaired roads at Fort Pickett with rock crushed at the installation’s quarry, constructed field defenses during a field training exercise, conducted demolition ranges to familiarize Soldiers with different kinds of explosives and competed in a regional food service competition... MORE

529th CSSB supports 116th IBCT during annual training
June 20, 2016 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion provide general support to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during annual training June 4-18, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The mission provided the 529th CSSB an opportunity to execute its doctrinal mission of providing sustainment support to maneuver formations, and they worked in coordination with the 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to provide maintenance and transportation capabilities to augment the capabilities of the 429th... MORE

185th Cyber Operations Squadron actively seeking interested officers, enlisted
June 16, 2016 — The 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, the latest addition to the 192nd Fighter Wing Operations Group, is up and running. Director of Operations Maj. Nathan Brown is working hard to staff this new squadron because with a home-station mobilization on the horizon for the fall of 2018, there is no time to waste... MORE

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category