Virginia National Guard

New laws benefit DMA, veterans with disabilities
August 21, 2020 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed into law two bills benefitting the Virginia Department of Military Affairs as well as veterans with disabilities during a virtual bill signing ceremony Aug. 4, 2020... MORE

Teamwork, attention to detail helps LT earn Ranger Tab
August 18, 2020 — When Virginia National Guardsman 1st Lt. Aidan O’Connor decided to go to Ranger School, it was partly because of leadership. So many of the best leaders he’d met had Ranger tabs on their shoulders and while O’Connor knew that wasn’t all it took to excel in the leadership arena, it seemed like a pretty good start. Plus, O’Connor says he was looking for a challenge, which he knew Ranger School would deliver. ... MORE

First Lt. Aidan O’Connor (front row, third from the right) poses alongside his fellow Ranger School Graduates after successfully completing the course. O’Connor, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, is currently assigned as the executive officer to Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Virginia Soldier, NCO compete in Region II Best Warrior
August 12, 2020 — Spc. Braxton Todd and Staff Sgt. Eddie Jones, both assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, competed against representatives from Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania at the 2020 Region II Best Warrior Competition July 28-31 in Maryland. The physical and mentally grueling competition, which took place at several locations throughout the state, included the Army Combat Fitness Test, weapons qualification, stress shooting, a 12-mile ruck march, a water survival test, a board appearance and more... MORE

Staff Sgt. Eddie Jones and Spc. Braxton Todd, Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division, compete in the 2020 Region II Best Warrior Competition, July 28, 2020, at H Steven Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm, Maryland. Jones and Todd are competing against Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware during the four-day competition for the right to move on to the national-level competition. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)

VNG Soldier is first direct commission ARNG cyber operations officer
August 7, 2020 — Maj. Waldon W. Jue became the first Army National Guard Soldier to direct commission as a cyber operations officer July 30, 2020, in Fairfax, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the direct commissioning ceremony and administered the oath of office to Jue who is assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based 144th Cyber Warfare Company, 124th Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade... MORE

Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, administers the oath of office to newly-promoted Maj. Waldon W. Jue Aug. July 30, 2020, in Fairfax, Virginia. (U. S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)

VNG Soldiers help clear roads after TS Isaias
August 6, 2020 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers used chain saws to help clear roads and assisted with keeping traffic moving Aug. 4, 2020, after Tropical Storm Isaias left a path of fallen trees and debris at multiple locations across Virginia... MORE

Samulski takes command of 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
August 4, 2020 — Col. Christopher J. Samulski took command of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Joseph A. DiNonno July 31, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly, commander of the 29th Infantry Division, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from DiNonno to Samulski... MORE

Col. Christopher J. Samulski takes command of the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Joseph A. DiNonno July 31, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

34th CERFP provides critical testing support to Commonwealth's COVID-19 response
July 29, 2020 — RICHMOND, Virginia — Nearly 200 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are concluding more than three months of continuous sample collection and other missions in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 response efforts. The Soldiers and Airman are assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives… ... MORE

34th CST sharpens response skills during exercise in Maryland
July 29, 2020 — GLEN ARM, Maryland — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team honed their chemical and biological recognition skills during a training exercise July 21-23, 2020, at H Steven Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm, Maryland. 18 of the CST’s Soldiers and Airmen… ... MORE

Lewis takes command of VNG aviation battalion
July 28, 2020 — SANDSTON, Va. — Lt. Col. Matthew Lewis took command of Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division during a change of command ceremony held July 26, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility. Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly, 29th Infantry Division Commander, presided over the… ... MORE

Martin succeeds Hubbard as 183rd RTI commander
July 22, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Charles B. Martin, Jr., took command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institue from Col. Todd H. Hubbard July 19, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, VNG Land Component… ... MORE

229th MPs conduct active shooter training exercise during AT
July 15, 2020 — FORT A.P. Hill, Virginia. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Manassas-based 229th Military Police Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, conducted active shooter training July 14, 2020, during their two weeks of annual training at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. “This is going to be… ... MORE

Army COVID-19 Response Operations Cell provides valuable support to Va. Guard Soldiers
July 15, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — In April 2020, as more and more Virginia National Guard Soldiers were activated as part of the state’s COVID-19 response mission, the Virginia Army National Guard established the Army COVID-19 Response Operations Cell to oversee and streamline the process. More than three months later, the ACROC… ... MORE

329th RSG, MTC Soldiers win VNG Best Warrior Competition
July 15, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers representing the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claimed top honors at the 2020 VNG Best Warrior Competition July 11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 329th’s Spc. Braxton Todd was named Soldier of the… ... MORE

Task Forces provides critical assistance to Virginia's COVID-19 response
July 15, 2020 — PETERSBURG, Va. — After months of hard work and unprecedented challenges, one element of the Virginia National Guard’s support to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is drawing to a close. While COVID-19 sample collections and mask fit testing continue, the task force dedicated to logistics and… ... MORE

Task Force provides critical assistance to Virginia’s COVID-19 response

134th Chaplain Support Team Soldiers return from deployment
July 13, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 134th Chaplain Support Team are back home after a successful deployment providing religious support to U.S. troops overseas. The detachment, led by Lt. Col. Seung H. Lee, the 134th Command Chaplain, arrived back in Virginia in… ... MORE

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