Virginia National Guard

VNG Endurance Team seeking team members
April 7, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Endurance Team is seeking additional members! Soldiers interested in becoming part of this elite team will need to attend the DEKA STRONG National Guard Challenge May 21-23, 2021, at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Arkansas. Based on event results, Soldiers may be selected to represent the Virginia National Guard at the National Guard Endurance Team tryouts Aug. 27-30, 2021, also at PEC. ... MORE

Explosives detection training lane at MTC dedicated to fallen VNG Soldiers
April 6, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers and guests attended a dedication ceremony for the new Banks-Lambert Handheld Detection Lane March 26, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The explosives detection training lane was dedicated and named for Sgt. Derek R. Banks and Sgt. David E. Lambert, who were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device Oct. 25, 2007... MORE

Current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers and guests attend a dedication ceremony for the new Banks-Lambert Handheld Detection Lane March 26, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Virginia Army Guard recruiters snag top spots after regional recruiting boards
April 1, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — In mid-March, a select few of Virginia’s Army National Guard recruiters traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for a chance to be named top among their regional peers. Sgt. 1st Class Brian Adams was named the region’s top recruiting noncommissioned officer, Sgt. Dakota Baughan was named the region’s top rookie recruiter, and Master Sgt. Jessica Dickenson earned the region’s runner-up spot for top section chief... MORE

Gettysburg, Pa. - Maj. Scott Nivens (far left), commander of the Virginia National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion, poses with Virginia's top recruiters with Sgt. Maj. Stephen Koptchak (far right), at the Region II Strength Maintenance Advisory Group meeting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (Courtesy photo)

VNG WOCs check off milestones on way toward course completion
April 1, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s warrant officer candidates hit a few milestones during their March drill weekend. On March 19th, 2021, candidates volunteered at the Chesterfield Food Bank where they helped sort, load and distribute thousands of pounds of food to hundreds of local residents. Then, on the following day, they presented their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Warrant officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School present their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, March 20, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The class includes both U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. The candidates will head south to Fort McClellan, Alabama, in at the end of April to begin Phase III and the final step toward becoming warrant officers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt.1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

Large-scale, short-notice D.C. mission requires massive transportation effort
March 24, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. – When more than 2,400 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen traveled to Washington, D.C., in January 2021, to assist civilian law enforcement with security operations before and after the 59th Presidential Inauguration, the large-scale, short-notice mission in the middle of a pandemic required a transportation plan unique to all involved. required a massive transportation plan unique to all involved... MORE

1-116th, MTC Soldiers claim titles at 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition
March 24, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett have claimed top honors at the 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition, which concluded with an awards ceremony March 21, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claim top honors at the 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition, held March 18-21, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

‘Buddy Aid’ training takes new approach to sexual assault response, prevention
March 24, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Eight Army National Guard victim advocates from five states attended a new training program designed to help respond to sexual assault March 1, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The training on “Buddy Aid – First Response to Sexual Assault” was sponsored by the office of the Virginia National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and included a combination of military and civilians from National Guard Bureau’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Virginia... MORE

Youth Program salutes children with personalized certificates, proclamations
March 17, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. – April is the Month of the Military Child, a special month to recognize and pay tribute to military families and their children for the daily sacrifices and for their commitment, courage, and unconditional support of our Armed Forces. To show how much they are appreciated, the National Guard Youth Program is saluting the children of Soldiers and Airmen with personalized certificates and proclamations. Service members who would like to their child to receive a personalized certificate and Month of the Military Child Proclamation should sign up at https://2021momccerts.splashthat.com ... MORE

Virginia National Guard reconfiguring task force to provide mobile vaccination teams
March 15, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard is reconfiguring the task force currently conducting COVID-19 testing and mask fit training to create mobile vaccination teams to provide additional capacity for the statewide vaccination program... MORE

Virginia National Guard personnel administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam March 15, 2021, at the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia.

Fort Pickett vaccination clinic open to service members, TRICARE beneficiaries, DoD retirees
March 15, 2021 — BLACKSTONE, Va. -- The Virginia National Guard COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is fully operational at Fort Pickett, and any service member, TRICARE beneficiary or Department of Defense retiree may schedule an appointment to receive their vaccination. Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees and members of the Virginia Defense Force are also eligible to receive a vaccination at the clinic... MORE

VNG opens COVID-19 vaccination clinic, encourages personnel to get vaccinated

Virginia Guard chaplains, NCOs provided valuable support to D.C. mission
March 10, 2021 — RICHMOND, Virginia – When Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen headed to Washington, D.C., in January, chaplains and religious affairs specialists were right alongside them to provide support and assistance... MORE

Chaplains support troops on mission in Washington, D.C.

Va. Army Guard Construction, Facility Management Office recognized with Fred Aron Award from NGB
March 10, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard Construction and Facility Management Office recently received both the regional and national Fred Aron Award for Excellence in Facilities Programs for Fiscal Year 20 from the National Guard Bureau. The Fred Aron award is presented to states or territories to recognize their work based on construction, resource management, strategic plans and education, facilities management, energy management and real estate. ... MORE

The 91st Cyber Brigade headquarters currently under construction at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

New VNG task force will help support vaccine clinics
March 10, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 250 Virginia National Guard Soldiers from across the state are supporting the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Health at COVID-19 community vaccination sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Starting March 1, 2021, the task force began a two-week training period at vaccination sites across the commonwealth. ... MORE

More than 30 Virginia National Guard Soldiers train on providing administrative and logistics support to a COVID-19 vaccination site March 1, 2021, at Richmond Raceway in Henrico County, Virginia.

Army Guard recruiter recommits to college commitment
March 1, 2021 — HAMPTON, Va. -- When Staff Sgt. Monisha Braxton was 17, her main goal was to go to college. Her financial situation made that goal extra challenging and while other students her age were making college plans, she was busy working in the food service industry. Braxton graduated high school with honors and looked into taking some classes at a local community college. The tuition was still more than she could afford so, she joined the U.S. Army, largely because the Army recruiter was the first to return her call... MORE

329th RSG conducts reverse RSOI for VNG units returning from D.C.
February 25, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – The Virginia-Beach based 329th Regional Support Group can finally take a breath after managing the complete administrative in-processing and out-processing of over 2,500 Virginia National Guard Soldiers supporting law enforcement in Washington D.C. from Jan. 8 to Feb. 12, 2021. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group guide VNG Soldiers returning from duty supporting law enforcement in Washington, D.C. through the reverse reception, staging, onward movement and integration process Feb. 8, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

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