Virginia National Guard

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

Governor, state legislators visit Fort Pickett
June 12, 2016 — Governor Terry McAuliffe joins a group of Virginia Senators and Delegates on a tour of the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center June 10, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The tour included firing ranges, visiting Soldiers from the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducting annual training, a tasty MRE lunch and an opportunity to rappel down the 40-foot tower on the Air Assault Course... MORE

Smith takes command of 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
June 6, 2016 — Col. E. Scott Smith takes command of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. William J. Coffin June 5, 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 Coffin to Smith... MORE

Dept. of Military Affairs recognizes, thanks state employees
May 18, 2016 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Paul F. Griffin, Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, and Walter L. Mercer, Director of Personnel and Administration for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, recognized and thanked Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees at luncheons and awards ceremonies May 10, 2016, at Fort Pickett and May 12, 2016, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach... MORE

Historical, archaeological archives move into new digs at Fort Pickett
April 20, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard Historical Collection and archeological collection both moved into a new building with some help from members of the Virginia Defense Force March 28-31, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Rep. Brat visits, tours Fort Pickett
April 7, 2016 — Rep. Dave Brat visited the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center March 31, 2016. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Lt. Col. Preston Scott, Fort Pickett garrison commander, provided an overview of the installation and its capabilities, then escorted Brat on a tour of the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site, the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute and the Fort Pickett virtual training facility. “It was a pleasure to learn about how these brave men serve,” Brat said on Facebook... MORE

VDF training focuses on individual skills
April 5, 2016 — More than 125 members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in training to improve their individual skills in the areas of interoperable communications, incident management, traffic control and chaplain support April 1-3, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

NCO, Soldier earn top honors in Va. Guard competition
April 4, 2016 — Sgt. David Perry was recognized as the Virginia Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Jeffrey Patteson was named the Soldier of the Year April 3, 2016, after the three-day 2016 Soldier and NCO of the Year Competition at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Both Soldiers are assigned to the Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center... MORE

MATES personnel refurbish Fort Pickett tracked vehicles
January 26, 2016 — With temperatures hovering in the low 20s, Soldiers of Fort Pickett’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site, or MATES, bundled up and put two tracked vehicles back on display at Fort Pickett, Virginia, Jan. 19, 2016. The vehicles, an M42 Duster and an M84 Mortar Carrier, have long been on display at Fort Pickett, and had accumulated a thick coat of pinesap, bird droppings and graffiti over the years. Over a months-long process, MATES personnel cleaned, sandblasted and repainted the hulking vehicles in an effort to restore them to their original glory... MORE

8th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) Soldiers learn leadership, tactics and teamwork
September 3, 2015 — Psychological Operations specialists from 8th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) recently graduated the U.S. Army Light Leaders Course at Fort Pickett, Va. The 14-day course, conducted by the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Infantry Regiment’s Regional Training Institute, focuses on teaching back-to-basics infantry skills to non-commissioned officers... MORE

29th ID trains for Warfighter Exercise during annual training
August 12, 2015 — The 29th Infantry Division conducted final testing and integration of its computer systems and section operations July 11-24, 2015, at Fort Pickett, Va., in preparation for a warfighter exercise to be held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., later in the year. The November exercise, similar to a final exam, will test the full capabilities of the division and its ability to operate as a command headquarters... MORE

183rd RTI trains military police officers
April 7, 2015 — U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers from across the country completed the 31B Basic Military Police Officer course April 4, 2015, after more than 254 hours of training at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. The MP course included two, two-week phases and allowed 11 Soldiers to earn the 31B Military Police Officer military occupational specialty... MORE

529th CSSB Soldiers prepare for federal mobilization
March 25, 2014 — Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted their final field training exercises from March 2-23, 2014, at Fort Pickett to prepare for their upcoming federal mobilization to Kuwait. The three-week annual training period focused on Army Warrior Tasks, battle drills, mandatory briefings and online training. Approximately 70 Soldiers will begin serving on federal active duty June 19, 2014, and a departure ceremony is scheduled for June 22... MORE

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