Virginia National Guard

VNG Soldiers get creative with ACFT training
December 11, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — With the rollout of the new Army Combat Fitness Test, the Virginia National Guard’s master fitness trainers are providing unique training opportunities to help Soldiers prepare for the test. During one such event, held Nov. 21, 2019, near Richmond, Virginia, Master Sgt. Ramon Abreu-Perez, master fitness coordinator for the Virginia National Guard, put together a fast-paced, heart-pumping, field-expedient ACFT training session... MORE

Exchange program benefits VNG Soldiers, partnerships
November 22, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Several Virginia National Guard Soldiers were able to participate in the Military Reserve Exchange Program in 2019, traveling abroad and attaching to foreign armies in a unique opportunity for military professional development. ... MORE

Va. Army Guard recruiters recognized as top in region
November 22, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard recruiters took the top spots for both regional recruiter of the year and regional recruiting supervisor of the year following a board held Nov. 7, 2019, in West Virginia. Master Sgt. Donnie Brizendine and Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Fretwell competed against their peers from neighboring states... MORE

VNG pilot pops surprise proposal at JMU game
November 13, 2019 — HARRISONBURG, Va. – By the time he started walking toward the James Madison University football field, 2015 alum 1st Lt. Blake Place was already having a pretty great day. He and his fellow Soldiers, all assigned to Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, helped kick off the Nov. 9, 2019, football game with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flyover. Now, it was almost time to propose to Andrea Dargie, his girlfriend of two years. Place wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but his fellow pilots helped him out as they wound their way through the stadium toward the field. They were tailed by a cluster of family members and friends, including Dargie, who had no idea what was coming... MORE

29th ID Band’s efforts rewarded with ASUA
November 12, 2019 — ROANOKE, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band received the Army Superior Unit Award streamer from Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, VNG Assistant Adjutant General-Army, during a ceremony Nov. 9, 2019, before the Virginia Veterans Parade in Roanoke, Virginia... MORE

Events around the commonwealth honor veterans
November 12, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in Veterans Day observations across the commonwealth Nov. 11, 2019, to recognize the service of men and women past and present who served in the armed forces... MORE

Cree promoted to colonel, takes authority as USPFO
November 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Lt. Col. Jeffery R. Cree was promoted to colonel and assumed authority as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Virginia during a ceremony Nov. 1, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Cree succeeds Col. Marie M. Mahoney, who has served as the USPFO since 2013. ... MORE

Williams to succeed Volant as 91st Cyber Brigade commander
November 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Teri D. Williams will succeed Col. Adam Volant as the commander of the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade, according to an announcement made Nov. 5, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

Ault Obstacle Course dedicated in name of VNG Soldier killed in Iraq
October 30, 2019 — Fort Pickett, Va. — Family, friends and current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers joined the leadership of Fort Pickett for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the Staff Sgt. Jesse Ault Wheeled Vehicle Obstacle Course Sept. 20, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Ault was killed in action April 9, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while assigned to the 429th Brigade Support Battalion. ... MORE

Dominion Energy pledges support of Guard employees during ceremony
October 30, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins and Virginia National Guard senior leaders attended a statement of support signing ceremony between Dominion Energy executives and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Oct. 17, 2019, at Dominion Energy’s new headquarters building in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Va. Army Guard selects top recruiters
October 30, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion held its end-of-year boards to name their top performers Oct. 11, 2019, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Dustin Haislip was named as the 2019 Rookie of the Year, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Fretwell was named the 2019 Recruiter of the Year, Master Sgt. Donnie Brizendine was named the 2019 Expert Seven of the Year, and Sgt. Austin Strutz was named the 2019 Active Duty Operational Support Person of the Year... MORE

Va. troop 2nd runner up in ARNG Honor Guard Soldier of Year competition
October 29, 2019 — RICHMOND, Virginia — Staff Sgt. Jason Cain, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the 29th Infantry Division Band who serves with the Virginia National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program, was the second runner up in the inaugural Army National Guard National Honor Guard Soldier of the Year competition and was honored by Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Advisor, Oct. 2, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. Kepner also recognized Cain as the ARNG National Honor Guard Soldier of the Quarter for the fourth quarter... MORE

New 116th IBCT deputy commander and joint staff officers announced
October 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Christopher J. Samulski will be assigned as the new deputy commander of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to an announcement made Oct. 17, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Samulski replaces Col. Russell E. McGuire who is moving to be the J5 joint strategic plans officer on the Virginia National Guard Joint Staff, and Col. Charles B. Martin, Jr. will become the J3 joint operations officer. All the assignments are effective Nov. 1, 2019... MORE

VNG’s first female Bronze Star recipient shares story at women’s summit
October 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s most highly decorated female Soldier shared her combat experiences on stage at the Women’s Achieve Summit Oct. 15, 2019, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia. Sgt. Monica Beltran, the first VNG female to receive the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, spoke as part of a four-woman panel about breaking barriers. The discussion was led by celebrity host Queen Latifah... MORE

429th BSB cooks win regional Connellys; Nationals next
October 16, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Danville-based Headquarters Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has won the regional Philip A. Connelly Food Service competition and will now compete in the national-level competition in 2020... MORE

429th BSB competes in regional food service competition during XCTC

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