Virginia National Guard

Fort Pickett welcomes new garrison commander
February 4, 2018 — Lt. Col. Paul Gravely took command of Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett from Col. Preston Scott, Jr., Feb. 3, 2018, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Walter Mercer, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General – Army, presided over the exchange of organizational colors that represented the change of garrison command from Scott to Gravely... MORE

Combating social media impersonation of military personnel
February 2, 2018 — Frequently, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command receives notifications from individuals stating they were scammed online by someone claiming to be a U.S. Soldier. Unbeknownst to the U.S. Soldier, an online scammer has used the Soldier’s name and available social media photos to perpetrate a crime... MORE

MEDEVAC Soldiers prepare for Kosovo deployment
February 2, 2018 — “Superb.” That was Sgt. Ashley Camper’s response when prompted to explain the quality of training she is receiving during her mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas. Camper is one of 26 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 2, Company C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment who are deploying for nine months as part of Kosovo Force 24, the 24th rotation of U.S. Soldiers to support the multinational peacekeeping mission in Kosovo... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard to field new personnel and pay system
January 24, 2018 — The Virginia Army National Guard is fielding a new personnel and pay system in 2019 that will have an easy-to-use online platform that provides more self-service capabilities for Soldiers. The Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army, or IPPS-A, will go online in early 2019... MORE

Governor commends the Va. National Guard
January 19, 2018 — Governor Ralph Northam and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran commended the Virginia National Guard for the organization’s service to commonwealth and country at a legislative reception hosted Jan. 18, 2018, by the Virginia National Guard Officer’s Association and Virginia Army and Air National Guard Enlisted Association in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to the reception, retired Air Force Col. Rich Anderson, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, shared his thoughts on leadership and public service as part of the Virginia National Guard’s ongoing Distinguished Speaker Series... MORE

Va. National Guard supports Governor Northam’s inauguration
January 15, 2018 — More than 200 Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force personnel were on duty Jan. 13, 2018, supporting the inauguration of Ralph Northam as the 73rd Governor of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. Soldiers, Airmen and members of the VDF conducted a variety of missions including playing ceremonial music, firing a 19-gun salute with artillery howitzers and providing command and control of the inaugural parade marching elements. A formation of Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen led the inaugural parade, and aviation crews conducted a flyover with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters... MORE

MEDEVAC Soldiers depart Virginia in advance of Kosovo deployment
January 8, 2018 — After more than a year of training, approximately 25 Soldiers assigned to Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment said goodbye to the Commonwealth of Virginia and officially began their federal mobilization that will take them to Kosovo in the coming weeks. The Soldiers in the unit gathered along with family members, friends and fellow Soldiers for a departure ceremony Jan. 4, 2018, at the Chesterfield County Airport and then departed in small groups in the days that followed, with the largest group leaving Jan. 5 on four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters... MORE

Va. National Guard supports winter storm response with transportation and aerial resupply
January 8, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard put more than 100 personnel on state active duty in the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore areas Jan. 3, 2018, to provide assistance to state and local authorities when heavy snow hit the region. Over the following three days, Soldiers transported first responders and essential emergency services employees through heavy snow, assisted with response calls and patient transports and aviation crews delivered food, medicine and other supplies to icebound Tangier Island, Virginia. All Virginia National Guard personnel were released from duty by end of the day Jan. 7... MORE

Virginia National Guard & Virginia War Museum remember WWI
January 2, 2018 — In early December 1917, 150 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 117th Military Police Company had already spent two months in France, arriving there eight months before the 29th and 80th Divisions and just seven months after President Woodrow Wilson declared war. One hundred years later, on Dec. 2, 2017, at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News, Virginia, retired Chief Warrant Office 4 Alexander F. Barnes, command historian for the Virginia National Guard, told the story of the 117th Military Police Company... MORE

Virginia, Maryland National Guard Soldiers lead Level 1 Funeral Honors training for Va., Md., N.C. troops
January 2, 2018 — More than a dozen Army National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina completed a five-day Level 1 Funeral Honors Training hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program Dec. 11-15, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Va. National Guard hosts closure ceremony in Clifton Forge
December 29, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard hosts a closure ceremony at the former location of the Clifton Forge Readiness Center Nov. 29, 2017, to formally mark the transfer of the facility to Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. Soldiers lowered and folded the U.S. and Virginia flags in front of the facility for the final time, and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presented the Virginia flag to Dr. John J. Rainone, president of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, to symbolize the transfer of the readiness center to college... MORE

Va. National Guard recruiters celebrate opening of new recruiting station
December 17, 2017 — Recruiters from the Virginia National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion gathered Dec. 13, 2017, to recognize the opening of their newest recruiting station in Springfield, Virginia. The new space replaces their previous northern Virginia location in Mount Vernon, and has space for a total of six recruiters, plus a section chief. The station services Fairfax and Arlington counties, the city of Alexandria, as well as parts of Prince William County, to include Woodbridge... MORE

Virginia Guard field artillery Soldiers gather for Saint Barbara’s Day celebration
December 16, 2017 — Past and present Virginia National Guard field artillery Soldiers gathered for the traditional Saint Barbara’s Day celebration Dec. 9, 2017, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, hosted by the 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Gravely named as new Fort Pickett garrison commander, Scott to serve as 29th ID chief of staff
December 13, 2017 — Lt. Col. Paul Gravely will succeed Col. Preston Scott, Jr., as the Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett garrison commander, according to an announcement made Dec. 13, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Gravely currently serves as the Fort Pickett director of plans, training and security, and Jan. 7, 2018, is his effective date for command. Scott will succeed Col. Kerry Dull as the chief of staff of the 29th Infantry Division... MORE

29th Infantry Division Soldiers honored by Maryland, Virginia for overseas service
December 12, 2017 — Maryland and Virginia National Guard leadership each honored members of the 29th Infantry Division for their recent overseas deployment during ceremonies Dec. 2-3, 2017, in Maryland and Virginia. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, as well as Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, thanked the Soldiers and families of the 29th ID for their dedication, service and sacrifices over the past year at a holiday reception Dec. 2, 2017, at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

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