Virginia National Guard

Virginia National Guard supporting 59th Presidential Inauguration
January 15, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has approximately 2,400 personnel on the ground in Washington D.C. as of Jan. 14, 2021, assisting civilian law enforcement in protecting property and providing a safe environment for citizens to exercise their right to peacefully assemble and protest leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20... MORE

Dep. Sec. Jabs visits VNG aviation facility
January 14, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Kathleen Jabs toured the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility Dec. 11, 2020. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, joined Jabs on her tour of the facility, which is located adjacent to the Richmond International Airport in Sandston, Va. The tour served as opportunity for the deputy secretary to learn more about the VNG’s aviation footprint, the mission of the facility and state’s aviation battalion, as well as the plan for a new facility in the coming years... MORE

Virginia Deputy Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Kathleen Jabs tours the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility alongside Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Dec. 11, 2020, near the Richmond International Airport. The tour served to better familiarize the deputy secretary with the capabilities of the VNG’s aviation assets, the support capabilities of the AASF, and the initiative to build a new facility.

VNG units upgrade small arms arsenal during NET/NEF
January 12, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from across the commonwealth trained on and fielded new small arms and weapons components at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett’s New Equipment Training / New Equipment Fielding facility Dec. 7 - 11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group conduct a familiarization live fire with the M320A1 grenade launcher Dec. 11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard supporting security effort in Washington, D.C.
January 9, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has approximately 1,000 personnel on the ground in Washington D.C. as of Jan. 9, 2021, and additional personnel will join in the coming days to assist civilian law enforcement with security operations. The VNG plans to provide about 2,000 personnel total to join a force of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from neighboring states expected to reach 6,200 by the end of the weekend... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 229th Military Police Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, stand guard at their post Jan. 9, 2021, in Washington, D.C.. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from several states have traveled to the National Capital Region to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

329th RSG conducts Best Warrior Competition
December 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group competed for top honors in the RSG’s Best Warrior Competition Dec. 10-11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Over the two days, Soldiers squared off in six events designed to test and challenge them mentally and physically. ... MORE

Sgt. Michael Walker and Spc. Luke Shallenberger take top honors in the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group Best Warrior Competition held Dec. 10-11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard staged, ready for possible winter storm response operations
December 16, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 60 Soldiers and 20 vehicles for state emergency support duty in the northwest area of the state Dec. 16, 2020, and they are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies respond to potential impacts from heavy snow along the I-81 and I-66 corridors. Expected missions for the VNG include using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to provide transportation for first responders through deep snow or help evacuate citizens in need of shelter as well as providing debris reduction teams with chain saws to help clear roads if needed... MORE

A Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducts pre-mission maintenance checks Dec. 16, 2020, in Staunton, Virginia.

Current, former field artillery Soldiers receive Order of St. Barbara
December 16, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — A select group of current and former Virginia National Guard artillery Soldiers are being recognized for their service to the field artillery community with the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara... MORE

Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presents the Ancient Order of St. Barbara to retired Col. Mike Coleman during a ceremony at the Capitol of Virginia Dec. 14, 2020, in Richmond, Virginia.

VNG COVID-19 response support will continue into 2021
December 16, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are continuing to provide COVID-19 pandemic response support to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Health as 2020 draws to a close. Support will also continue into the new year after federal funding was extended for COVID-19 response through March 2021. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen support a COVID-19 testing event for students and staff at Randolph-Macon College Nov. 17, 2020, in Ashland, Virginia.

Medic earns dental hygienist cert, becomes first college grad in family
December 15, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – Sgt. Lauren Jenkins, a medic assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Medical Command, became a licensed dental hygienist earlier this year, finishing her final training amid shutdowns and restrictions brought about by the pandemic. Jenkins earned her degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is the first in her family to become a college graduate... MORE

Soldier's 80-lb weight loss journey leads to military service
December 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — When he was 17, Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson struggled with his weight. At 5 feet, 7 inches tall, he weighed in at around 250 pounds. “Over the years, I had been made fun of, bullied, talked about, put down, denied certain extracurricular activities, criticized, etcetera because of my weight,” Jackson said. None of that did much to boost his self-esteem or confidence, but eventually he decided to try out for his high school’s basketball team... MORE

Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson, assigned to the 183rd Regional Regiment, Training Institute, weighed 250 lbs at the age of 17 (left), lost 80 lbs and today maintains a high-level of physical and mental toughness through regular and consistent training.

HART partnership cited as career highlight for participants
December 1, 2020 — CHESTERFIELD, Va. — For nearly a decade, Virginia National Guard flight crews have worked alongside technicians from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team. Over those many years, the two organizations created, built and grew Virginia’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART. Since the program’s inception in 2011, the HART has deployed for hurricane response, flown countless hours over the waterways and landscapes of Virginia and now boasts approximately 20 trained technicians. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard flight crews train with Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members on rescue hoist operations Nov. 19, 2020, in Chesterfield, Virginia. Together, the Virginia aviators and Chesterfield first responders form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or HART. Their training focused on conducting litter hoists and is part of an ongoing partnership that first began in 2011.

Dual military couple says finding each other is best military perk
November 17, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The challenges of being a dual-military couple are balanced by the benefits. On one hand, couples share the experience of military service, which can be a foundation for strength for many. On the other hand, these couples face the challenge of juggling two military careers with the demands of family life... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Robichaud and Staff Sgt. Sara Robichaud, both assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard, pose with their children. The two have more than 20 years of combined service and enjoy the life the military has given them and their children.

IVAS draws Army senior leaders to MTC Fort Pickett
November 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. -- Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett played host to United States Department of Defense and Army leadership in October 2020, as they visited Soldier Touchpoint 3 of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) training at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Soldier tests the Capability Set 3 (CS3) militarized form factor prototype of the Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) during a life fire test event at its third Soldier Touchpoint (STP 3) at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Upgrade: Popular range at MTC gets major renovation
November 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After a nearly year-long renovation project, the Multi-Purpose Range Complex at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, Virginia, was formally reopened with a ceremony Nov. 6, 2020... MORE

A Tennessee National Guard Bradley fighting vehicle sends rounds downrange during a re-opening ceremony for the Multi-Purpose Range Complex Nov. 6, 2020, at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, Virginia.

VNG Soldiers, Airmen continue COVID-19 response support
November 5, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to conduct COVID-19 response mission support across the commonwealth, providing key testing sample collection and personal protective equipment fit testing capabilities in support of the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Emergency Management. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers train civilians from various agencies to conduct N95 respirator mask fit testings Nov. 3, 2020, at Old Dominion EMS Alliance in Henrico County, Virginia.

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