Virginia National Guard

Vietnam veterans recognized by Congressman Goodlatte in Staunton ceremony
March 30, 2017 — More than 100 Vietnam veterans filed onto the drill floor of the Thomas D. Howie Memorial Readiness Center March 30, 2017, for a Vietnam Veterans Commemoration Ceremony. The event, hosted by Congressman Bob Goodlatte in Staunton, Virginia, included several helping hands from the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Soldiers of the unit not only provided a color guard and other support to the ceremony, but several Soldiers were on hand to welcome and usher in the Vietnam veterans to their readiness center and to personally thank them for their service... MORE

Sec. Moran recognizes Va. Guard federal active duty service
March 29, 2017 — Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 29th Infantry Division March 19, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The medals recognized the Soldiers who served in specialized teams on federal active duty overseas. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, was also on hand to recognize the Soldiers and present his challenge coin to Soldiers for outstanding duty performance. Both Moran and Williams also thanked family members for their outstanding support during the deployment... MORE

Digging more than a foxhole at Fort Pickett
March 25, 2017 — Atop a green pasture spotted with wandering cattle at the junction of the Nottoway and Little Nottoway rivers, a team of archaeologists studied the soil of four trenches, each one about 12 inches deep. The archaeology site, investigated by a team of archaeologists March 22, 2017, is just one of the hundreds of similar sites undergoing excavation for the Virginia National Guard Cultural Resources Management Program, or CRMP... MORE

Commonwealth Challenge graduates get back on track
March 16, 2017 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 101 cadets during a commencement ceremony for Class 46 March 4, 2017, at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. Virginia State Senator Bryce Reeves, who represents the 17th District, was the guest speaker. Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Director of the Joint Staff for the Virginia National Guard, was on hand to congratulate the graduates and the Clifton Forge-based 29th Division Band performed ceremonial music for the event... MORE

Red Dragons complete mission in Qatar
March 16, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a transfer of authority ceremony March 14, 2017, to officially end their security mission in Qatar. Soldiers from the Missouri Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment assumed responsibility for the mission... MORE

Camp Pendleton announced as winner of Secretary of the Army Environmental Award
March 9, 2017 — Camp Pendleton is one of five installations recognized as a winner in the Fiscal Year 2016 Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards, earning top honors in the Cultural Resources Management – Small Installation Category. The awards are the highest honor in the field of environmental science and sustainability conferred by the Army... MORE

Va. Guard troops compete for title as Virginia’s top Soldier, NCO
March 8, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from around the state participated in the 2017 Virginia Army National Guard Soldier and NCO of the Year Competition Feb. 24-26, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The three-day competition included the Army Physical Fitness Test, marksmanship, land navigation, Army Warrior Tasks and an appearance board... MORE

Infantry Soldiers train for Expert Infantry Badge testing
March 6, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to multiple units in the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted training on weapons, medical and patrol tasks that are required to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge March 4, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The purpose of the EIB is to recognize Infantrymen who have demonstrated a mastery of critical tasks that build the core foundation of individual proficiency that allow them to locate, close with and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver and repel an enemy assault through fire and close combat... MORE

Special response force validated after external evaluation
March 3, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear High Yield Explosive Response Force Package, known as the CERFP, received validation from external evaluators April 26, 2017, at the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The evaluation validated the team of approximately 200 Soldiers and Airmen as fully training on 20 of 24 tasks... MORE

VDF conducts statewide communications exercise
February 27, 2017 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a communication exercise at multiple locations across the commonwealth Feb. 25, 2017, to test their ability to use multiple systems for voice and data communications... MORE

Tajikistani officers conduct information exchange with 34th CST
February 24, 2017 — Officers from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense who specialize in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response operations conducted an information exchange with personnel for the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team Feb. 21-22, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exchange was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program that links states and partner nations in support of mutual interests, and their visit also included a tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management... MORE

Engineers train on new route clearance vehicles
February 21, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Fredericksburg-based 229th Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team completed two weeks of training on route clearance operations in the Husky Mounted Detection System and the Buffalo Armored Vehicle Feb. 17, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The route clearance platoon has been immersed in assembly, maintenance and operation of the new vehicles since February 4, 2017... MORE

Virginia National Guard family, volunteer receive national recognition for service
February 17, 2017 — A Virginia National Guard family was recognized as the Army National Guard Family of the Year and a volunteer was recognized as Regional Volunteer of the Year in an announcement published Feb. 13, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Kevin L. McNeely, the Director of J1 Manpower and Personnel at National Guard Bureau... MORE

Red Dragons conduct combined live-fire exercise in Qatar
February 7, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving on federal active duty in Qatar spent a weekend in early January 2017 at Al Ghalail Range conducting a Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise. Soldiers conducted an area defense integrating indirect fires with mortars and forward observers, anti-tank capabilities with Javelin teams and direct fire capabilities with M240B machine guns, M249 squad automatic weapons and other small arms... MORE

Virginia Soldiers take part in Qatari Marksmanship Competition
February 7, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving on federal active duty in Qatar took top honors in several categories in the Qatari Marksmanship Competition at Al Udeid Air Base in early January 2017... MORE

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