FORT BARFOOT, Va. –
The Virginia Army National Guard held its inaugural Civic Leader Appreciation Day on July 17, 2024, at the Blackstone Army Airfield near Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Approximately 125 teachers, school administrators, and support staff attended the event, which was hosted by the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion.
“We’re really proud of what we do in the National Guard, and we wanted to give you an opportunity to experience some of the things we do while training,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard’s Director of the Joint Staff and guest speaker for the event.
The goal of the event was to express gratitude to Virginia’s educators and civic leaders for their dedication and contributions to the youth of the state, while also providing them a firsthand look at what service in the National Guard entails. Virginia National Guard units from across the state showcased various pieces of equipment, including an M777A howitzer, various wheeled and tracked vehicles, and weapons including the M110 squad designated marksman rifle. In addition to the displayed equipment, the civic leaders were treated to a short orientation flight aboard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Lt. Col. Kim Wynn, battalion commander of the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, used the event as a chance to talk about the benefits of service in the National Guard. During her remarks, she discussed tuition assistance, low-cost health benefits, $20,000 sign-on bonuses, full-time job opportunities, and paid training, all of which come with service in the National Guard. She also highlighted the Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, which offers a $1,000 incentive to Virginia residents who refer eligible individuals who ultimately enlist in the Virginia Army or Air National Guard.
During her remarks, Wynn encouraged the event attendees to talk to the recruiters present to learn more about the opportunities available and to share their experiences from the Civic Leader Appreciation event.
“When you return to class and your students show up and you ask what they did over the summer, I need each and every one of you to start that conversation with today,” Wynn said. “Tell them, ‘I had a chance to be on a Black Hawk, to spend some time with recruiters, and learn from people who support our community in the Virginia National Guard.’”
Following remarks from Hubbard and Wynn, educators received a quick safety brief on how to safely board the helicopters and then took to the skies.
Jay Cohen, a culinary arts instructor at the Culpeper Technical Education Center, said he has collaborated with his local National Guard recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class Dakota Baughn, on hosting an MRE challenge for his students for a long time. When Baughn asked if he wanted to attend an event that included a helicopter ride, he jumped at the opportunity.
“When he told me it was a Black Hawk, I said, ‘yes, yes, yes!’” Cohen said. He called the event “a great opportunity” to promote the Virginia National Guard and to provide educators with a little more insight that they can share with students who say they don’t know what they want to do.
Moving forward, the Virginia Army National Guard intends to make its Civic Leader Appreciation Day an annual event with even more attendees.