Virginia National Guard

29th Infantry Division to transfer mission to 35th Infantry Division
July 7, 2017 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The 29th Infantry Division will hand over control of Operation Spartan Shield to the 35th Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony July 13, 2017, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The two divisions have been paired together several times throughout their storied histories. Both units celebrate their 100th anniversaries this year, and the TOA ceremony will mark another historic milestone where the two divisions have crossed paths... MORE

Fort Pickett celebrates 75th birthday
July 5, 2017 — Lt. Col. Preston Scott, Fort Pickett garrison commander, cut a cake July 5, 2017, to celebrate Fort Pickett’s 75th birthday. Originally named Camp Pickett, it was officially dedicated July 3, 1942, with 46,000 acres and the mission of training troops after the United States’ entry into World War II... MORE

183rd RTI hosts historic pistol match at Fort Pickett
June 28, 2017 — It was a historic year of firsts for the Virginia National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Pistol Match, held June 23-25, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. A record-setting 72 shooters, from both the Army and Air National Guard, turned up to test their marksmanship skills against some of the best shooters in the state. For the first time in the event’s history, a team from the Air National Guard became the state’s pistol champions and Sgt. Alexandra Wilson, assigned to Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center, became the first female state pistol champion and the first female recipient of the Governor’s Twenty tab... MORE

29th Division Band performs at ceremony honoring Medal of Honor recipient
June 24, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard’s 29th Division Band provided music June 24, 2017, in Madison, Virginia, for a ceremony dedicating a new historical highway marker honoring a U.S. Army corporal awarded the Medal of Honor for “extraordinary heroism” during a U.S. cavalry fight with Apache Indians on Jan. 24, 1877, in the Florida Mountains of New Mexico... MORE

Va. Guard aviation battalion trains at Fort A.P. Hill
June 18, 2017 — For the first two weeks of June 2017, Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment came together at Fort A.P. Hill for annual training. There, the Soldiers focused on improving individual and unit readiness with events including a personnel recovery exercise and machine gun familiarization classes and live fires, and also provided integral air support to a multi-day mortar raid in conjunction with Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Virginia National Guard certifies 26 new rappel masters
June 15, 2017 — After five grueling days, 26 active duty, U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers earned their rappel master certification after completing the U.S. Army’s Rappel Master Course, taught by Soldiers of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute June 5-9, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia Guard transporters train on rail and water operations
June 14, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 1173rd Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted training on rail load and seaport operations with active duty U.S. Army personnel during their drill weekend June 9-11, 2017, at Fort Eustis, Virginia... MORE

D-Day service and sacrifice honored at events across the globe
June 8, 2017 — On the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, Soldiers, citizens and leaders took part in ceremonial events June 3-6, 2017, in Virginia, France and the U.S. Army Central Command area of operations to honor the World War II veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy along with those who gave their lives in support of the Allied invasion... MORE

Counterdrug Task Force civil operations helps coalitions broaden capacity
June 4, 2017 — From the 30,000 foot level this whole opioid/heroin crisis is as fuzzy as the Hollywood Hills on a hazy summer’s day. But after spending the afternoon with 20 (17 in the room and three on teleconference) members of Community Coalitions of Virginia, the opioid crisis became as clear as Los Angeles after the Santa Ana winds blow through. During member introductions, seven of the 20 people attending the meeting were related to or had personal contact with individuals who had either died from an opioid drug overdose or who are in recovery themselves—and that’s only those who spoke up. It is these types of substance abuse issues that bring National Guard Counterdrug civil operations specialists and community coalitions together... MORE

Virginia National Guard activates new engineer unit in Onancock
June 3, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard hosted an activation and assumption of command ceremony for the 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment June 3, 2017, at the readiness center in Onancock, Virginia. The new engineer unit will be staffed with skilled positions including electricians, plumbers, construction equipment operators and carpenters, so there will be opportunities for people in the area to join the National Guard to receive training in those specialities. ... MORE

1-111th learn new howitzer systems from 82nd Airborne DIVARTY
May 31, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted hands-on training with Soldiers from the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Artillery during a four-day drill weekend May 4-7, 2017, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina... MORE

Medical Command AT balances mission support, Soldier skills
May 31, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Medical Command balanced mission support requirements with improving individual skills during a week of annual training in early May 2017. Because Medical Command Soldiers use part of their AT to help Guard units maintain medical readiness throughout the year, they pack as much as possible into the single week of training... MORE

U.S., Canadian military personnel earn German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge in Jordan
May 30, 2017 — Following three grueling days of physical tests, more than 50 U.S. Army Central Soldiers, including Maryland and Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, a U.S. Air Forces Central Airman and two Canadian Armed Forces soldiers earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge May 30, 2017, in Jordan. The GAFPB is a decoration of the German Armed Forces, authorized for wear by the U.S. military, and awarded to soldiers of all ranks. A German air force officer from the German Embassy in Amman served as an advisor and oversaw the three-day event, which was hosted by the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 149th Military Engagement Team... MORE

U.S., Jordanian military legal professionals gain greater understanding through joint symposium
May 30, 2017 — U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force legal professionals from the U.S. Central Command area of operations teamed with 10 Jordan Armed Forces- Arab Army military judges for a four-day symposium on operational law and military justice April 24-27, 2017, near Amman, Jordan... MORE

Va. Guard Soldiers, Airmen awarded for rifle marksmanship excellence
May 22, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen received awards for their outstanding performance during the Adjutant General’s 2017 Rifle Match May 21, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Sixty-five participants competed in a variety of individual and team events May 19-20, hosted by the Fort Pickett-based 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regional Training Institute. The state-level competition included events such as reflexive fire, an urban assault course, and a course for the Army’s Excellence in Competition badge. All Virginia National Guardsmen are welcome to attend, regardless of rank or prior weapon qualification scores, because it is most importantly a training and sustainment event... MORE

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