Virginia National Guard

Paintball leads to enlistment to follow in father’s footsteps
August 16, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As soon as Pfc. Adrianna S. Apelt put on her father’s old Army uniform to play paintball, she knew. “I saw myself in the mirror and realized this was what I was supposed to do,” she exclaimed. “It just fit!” Two months later, during her senior year at Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, Apelt joined the Virginia Army National Guard... MORE

Norfolk armory named in honor of VNG D-Day combat medic
August 14, 2019 — NORFOLK, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Norfolk armory was officially named the Chief Warrant Officer 4 Arnold Lindblad Armory during a ceremony Aug. 14, 2019, in Norfolk, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, hosted the ceremony, which was attended by Lindblad’s son, retired VNG Master Sgt. Steve Lindblad, and other family members, as well as other senior Guard leaders... MORE

1945th Contracting Team Soldiers recognized by Norfolk Naval Shipyard
August 6, 2019 — PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Two Virginia National Guard Soldiers currently on federal active duty overseas providing contract support received months of required real-world experience with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard prior to their deployment, and they were recognized for their outstanding service in May 2019... MORE

Recruit Sustainment Program produces greater success rate for newer recruits
August 6, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 70 newly-recruited Soldiers participated in a combined training event as part of the Virginia National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program July 20, 2019, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The recruits meet one weekend a month to focus on administrative tasks and participate in training events that help prepare them for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training... MORE

VDF chaplains provide support at Fort Pickett chapel during annual training season
August 2, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia Defense Force chaplains are volunteering their time to conduct Sunday services at the Fort Pickett Bulla Chapel through the summer to provide religious support to Soldiers conducting training on the installation. The partnership between the Virginia National Guard Chaplain Corps and the VDF Chaplain Corps opens the chapel every Sunday from June 2 through Aug. 25, 2019... MORE

Son follows father into Virginia Army National Guard
July 24, 2019 — FORT LEE, Va. — Pvt. Andrew Lee Ross followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted into the Virginia Army National Guard July 2, 2019, at the Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Lee, Virginia. He follows a long line of family members into the military, and his oath of enlistment was administered by his uncle, Lt. Col. Steven Gutierrez, in front of his mother, siblings and father, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Merritt, a recruiter for the Virginia Army National Guard... MORE

429th BSB competes in regional food service competition during XCTC
July 23, 2019 — Fort Pickett, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Danville-based Headquarters Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the Philip A. Connelly Food Service Competition July 19, 2019, during eXportable Combat Training Capability Rotation 19-4 at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 429th is competing for the regional award and the opportunity to further compete for the national prize... MORE

116th IBCT conducting eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation at Fort Pickett
July 14, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are honing their combat skills during the eXportable Combat Training Capability Rotation 19-4 scheduled for July 13 through August 2, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

VNG hosts combined arms marksmanship match
July 10, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — For the first time, the Virginia National Guard’s annual Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Match was a combined arms event, held June 21-23, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. More than 50 Soldiers and Airmen competed in the event, which tested their skills on both rifle and pistol, and was hosted by the Marksmanship Training Unit, part of 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Command post exercise prepares 29ID staff for Warfighter
July 3, 2019 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – More than 600 National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division from Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, South Carolina and Tennessee came together to participate in a command post exercise June 18-30, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania... MORE

276th Engineers tackle Fort Pickett improvements during AT
June 26, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Petersburg-based 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group made significant progress in efforts to improve some of Fort Pickett’s training areas during their annual training June 1-15, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

576th Engineer Detachment constructs, repairs facilities at SMR during annual training
June 25, 2019 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Onancock-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group constructed new training facilities and repaired current ones at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during their annual training June 8-22, 2019... MORE

Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 19, 2019 — SUFFOLK, Va. – Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, stood in the turret of a Humvee, prepared to engage targets with his M2 .50 caliber machine gun. “Gunner ready,” he said to his truck commander, as they proceeded down a dusty road. Soon enough, the commander called out an approaching target. “Target identified,” Murphy responded. “500 meters.”... MORE

Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard's Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, engages targets with an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on the Individual Unstabalized Gunnery Trainer during training at the Suffolk Armory in Suffolk, Virginia, June 8, 2019. The IUGT is a computer-based simulator that connects the body of a weapon to a virtual reality system and is used to augment the training on crew-served weapons.

183rd RTI celebrates accreditation success
June 18, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute gathered to celebrate their success in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command accreditation process June 22, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Gibbs takes responsibility of Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion
June 14, 2019 — FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Gibbs took responsibility as the senior noncommissioned officer of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion from Command Sgt. Maj. Dempsey O. Whitt June 13, 2019, in a change of responsibility ceremony held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Both command sergeants majors are members of the Virginia National Guard. This is the first time in the twelve-year history of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion in which two Virginia National Guard command sergeants majors took responsibility back to back of the organization. This position is an active duty, title 10, one-year commitment with the opportunity to extend beyond the one-year tour... MORE

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