Virginia National Guard

Virginia Guard indirect fire infantrymen train on new mobile kit for 120mm mortars
September 20, 2017 — Virginia National Guard indirect fire infantrymen trained on the newly-fielded M326 120mm Mortar Stowage Kit, or MSK, and executed fire missions Sept. 16, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The M326 MSK is a trailer-mounted system allowing Soldiers to quickly emplace, fire and stow the fully-assembled, 300-pound 120mm mortar... MORE

1-111th completes transformation with howitzer live fire
August 30, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team live fired new M777A2 howitzers and upgraded M119A3 howitzers during their two weeks of annual training Aug. 17-31, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to complete their transformation into a composite field artillery battalion. As part of the battalion’s transformation, two firing batteries upgraded their howitzers to a newer model, and a third firing battery was activated to field a larger caliber howitzer... MORE

116th IBCT conducts EIB testing, focuses on individual skills
August 15, 2017 — After a week of hands-on training, 254 Soldiers began testing for the Expert Infantryman Badge Aug. 6, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. EIB testing was hosted by the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was a key event in the brigade’s two-week annual training, held July 29 – Aug. 12, 2017... MORE

Sustainment Rodeo shows off Soldier skills
August 14, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Danville-based 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in vehicle obstacle courses, basic Soldier tasks and challenges during the Sustainment Rodeo, Aug. 6-10, 2017 at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

229th BEB Soldiers compete in Sapper Stakes
August 9, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team assembled Sapper Fire Teams and competed against each other during a rigorous 72-hour Sapper Stakes competition, held Aug. 6-9, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The competition was held during the unit’s two-week annual training... MORE

Agreement with NC Guard brings new jobs to MATES, more training to Fort Pickett
July 21, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina National Guard to join the West Virginia and Pennsylvania National Guard as external customers storing equipment at the Fort Pickett Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site according to an announcement made June 21, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. MATES personnel maintain the equipment and make sure it is fully mission capable for Soldiers from the respective states to use for training. The new agreement adds a company of M1 main battle tanks and will bring an additional five full-time jobs to the MATES and additional training personnel to Fort Pickett... MORE

Fort Pickett celebrates 75th birthday
July 5, 2017 — Lt. Col. Preston Scott, Fort Pickett garrison commander, cut a cake July 5, 2017, to celebrate Fort Pickett’s 75th birthday. Originally named Camp Pickett, it was officially dedicated July 3, 1942, with 46,000 acres and the mission of training troops after the United States’ entry into World War II... MORE

183rd RTI hosts historic pistol match at Fort Pickett
June 28, 2017 — It was a historic year of firsts for the Virginia National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Pistol Match, held June 23-25, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. A record-setting 72 shooters, from both the Army and Air National Guard, turned up to test their marksmanship skills against some of the best shooters in the state. For the first time in the event’s history, a team from the Air National Guard became the state’s pistol champions and Sgt. Alexandra Wilson, assigned to Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center, became the first female state pistol champion and the first female recipient of the Governor’s Twenty tab... MORE

Virginia National Guard certifies 26 new rappel masters
June 15, 2017 — After five grueling days, 26 active duty, U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers earned their rappel master certification after completing the U.S. Army’s Rappel Master Course, taught by Soldiers of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute June 5-9, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Medical Command AT balances mission support, Soldier skills
May 31, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Medical Command balanced mission support requirements with improving individual skills during a week of annual training in early May 2017. Because Medical Command Soldiers use part of their AT to help Guard units maintain medical readiness throughout the year, they pack as much as possible into the single week of training... 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

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

183rd RTI earns “Institute of Excellence” status from TRADOC evaluation
November 15, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute has been awarded “Institute of Excellence” status by U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and evaluated as full accredited, according to a memorandum dated Nov. 9, 2016, from Gen. David G. Perkins, commander of TRADOC... MORE

Final field artillery live fire marks start of transformation
November 13, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted one final live-fire exercise with their M119A2 howitzers Nov. 5, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, beginning the transformation of the field artillery battalion. Over the next 12 months, the battalion will transform into a larger, more robust composite field artillery battalion... MORE

VDF trains, evaluates communication teams
September 26, 2016 — Members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted training and evaluation on multiple communications systems Sept. 24, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, to ensure they are ready to provide support to the Virginia National Guard during domestic operations. VDF troops organized into response teams provide capabilities like high frequency radio, Statewide Agencies Radio System, incident management assistance and operation of Mobile Communications Platform trailers, and all of those capabilities were evaluated... MORE

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