Virginia National Guard

ARNG Soldiers from 9 states, territories conduct funeral honors training in Virginia Beach
March 19, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosted 11 Army National Guard Soldiers from nine states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course Feb. 26 to March 8, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans... MORE

Soldiers conduct funeral honors training

National Guard service opens doors to full-time employment for new 91B
March 19, 2024 — When Spc. Ricky Wright joined the Virginia Army National Guard alongside his twin sister, Faith, it opened up a new world of possibilities. For high school, Wright attended Dinwiddie High School, as well as Rowanty Technical Center in Carson, Virginia. At Rowanty, he picked up a plethora of automotive skills, as well as an Automotive Service Excellence certification, while he was there. Given that background, it made sense for Wright to enlist as a 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic... MORE

RTI instructors conduct infantry tactics exchange in Tajikistan
March 14, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute conducted an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan March 3 - 8, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ... MORE

192nd Operations Group promotes deputy commander to group commander
March 12, 2024 — The 192nd Operations Group, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony March 1, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia... MORE

Two Air Force officers holding a guidon, smiling for photo

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates Class 60
March 12, 2024 — The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 68 cadets during a ceremony March 2, 2024, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined Jennifer D. Lanz, director of CCYA, and Yolanda Parker, a CCYA graduate and the guest speaker for the event, on stage to congratulate the graduates of Class 60... MORE

529th CSSB takes responsibility for sustainment mission in Poland
March 12, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion unfurled its organizational colors and took responsibility for logistics, maintenance, and supply missions from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a ceremony March 11, 2024, at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland... MORE

DMA mentorship program graduates fourth class
March 12, 2024 — Participants in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Workforce Development Mentoring Program graduated during a ceremony Feb. 28, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

DMA mentorship program graduates third class

Soldiers get behind the wheel during 88M MOS Transition Course
March 6, 2024 — U.S. Army Soldiers from across the nation came together to attend the 88M Motor Transport Operator Course, taught by cadre assigned to 2nd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 28-day course teaches Soldiers how to safely operate some of the largest wheeled vehicles in the U.S. Army’s fleet... MORE

VNG recognizes 7 WOCS graduates
March 6, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of seven Soldiers from the 183 Regiment, Regional Training Institute’s Warrant Officer Candidate School during a ceremony held March 3, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. For the candidates, their WOCS graduation served as a culmination of years of hard work and dedication in their respective career fields. On average, the candidates had 14 years of service, an overall academic average of 94 percent and represented five branches and two states... MORE

Governor, AG recognize outstanding performance at VNG Military Ball
February 29, 2024 — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Virginia National Guard Military Ball and Gala Feb. 24, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia, and helped recognize some of the VNG’s top performers... MORE

New VAARNG director of psychological health aims to increase awareness
February 27, 2024 — James O. Parker IV assumed the role of Virginia Army National Guard director of psychological health Feb. 26, 2024. “I am very excited to be begin my role as the new director of psychological health,” Parker said... MORE

James O. Parker IV, the new Virginia Army National Guard director of psychological health, is introduced to members of the VAARNG community by Jonathan Goldwire, the previous DPH, Feb. 15, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia.

229th MPs conduct checkpoint security exchange in Tajikistan
February 27, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a border checkpoint military security exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 19 - 23, 2024, in Dusti, Tajikistan. ... MORE

From Marine to Guard, a Red Dragon sniper’s journey across continents
February 26, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson’s journey into the military began with a casual invitation from a friend to go “hang out” at the local U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station. His friend had just joined the Marine Corps Reserve and, at 18, Johnson didn’t even really know what a Marine was. He’d just graduated high school and said, “I wasn’t really doing anything.” When the recruiter asked if he wanted to blow stuff up, Johnson said yes, and enlisted as a combat engineer... MORE

New director looks to keep ChalleNGe striving for excellence
February 26, 2024 — Jennifer D. Lanz is the new director of the Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy and started her new position Feb. 1, 2024. Lanz most recently served as assistant principal at Floyd E. Kellam High School in Virginia Beach. Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and is based at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ChalleNGe is a 17-and-a-half-month program that is structured in a military-style environment designed to promote academics, attention to detail, time management, and leadership, while promoting self-esteem, confidence and pride... MORE

Jennifer D. Lanz, the new director of the Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy, meets with cadets following morning formation Feb. 15, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. L

Army flight school grad follows in father’s footsteps
February 20, 2024 — When Warrant Officer Paul D. Kelly walked across the stage and graduated flight school Feb.8, 2024, his silver wings were not the only thing he took away with him. Also in his tool kit is a sense of connection he found among those who knew and flew with his late father, Col. Paul M. Kelly, a senior Army aviator who served at the National Guard Bureau and Department of the Army Staff levels, who was killed in action when the warrant officer was only nine years old... MORE

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