Virginia National Guard

Flora retires after more than 36 years of service
April 17, 2024 — Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora celebrated more than 36 years of military service with family, friends and fellow service members at a retirement ceremony April 12, 2024, at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony... MORE

VNG full-time avionics team tackles high-flying challenges
April 15, 2024 — Tucked behind a blue door at the Virginia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility is the organization’s avionics section. There, a small group of full-time Soldiers work to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair avionic components and wiring on a fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct maintenance on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter April 2, 2024, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. The Soldiers are part of the AASF’s avionics shop, which troubleshoots, diagnoses and repairs avionic components and wiring on the VNG’s Black Hawk fleet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

From ambulances to artillery: one NCO’s pursuit of military & medical dreams
April 15, 2024 — As a young adult, Sgt. Stella Escano knew she wanted to attend medical school. She also knew she wanted to eventually serve in the military, but wanted to get her education locked in first. Growing up in and around Norfolk, Virginia, an area with a dense military presence, Escano was quite familiar with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, but neither of those options felt like the right choice for her. So, she went online and did some research... MORE

Sgt. Stella Escano takes a written exam alongside her fellow competitors at the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Best Warrior Competition held Jan. 5-7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. (Courtesy photo)

VNG Chaplains gather for joint sustainment training
April 15, 2024 — More than 40 chaplains and religious affairs specialists personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and the Virginia Defense Force came together for a two-day Joint Chaplain Annual Sustainment Training event April 13-14, 2024, at the Virginia National Guard’s Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

VNG, VDF Chaplains gather for joint sustainment training

St. Lo Soldiers conduct air assault during drill weekend
April 12, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers with the Charlottesville-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted aviation training with crews with the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division April 5, 2024, at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave, Virginia. The Soldiers' family members were invited to attend the training to demonstrate the rigorous routines they undergo when they are away from their families and training... MORE

229th BEB Soldier earns Expert Soldier Badge
April 9, 2024 — Maj. Josh Favaro, executive officer of the Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineering Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team earned the Expert Soldier Badge March 15, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. In doing so, Favaro became the first Soldier to earn the ESB while assigned to the Virginia National Guard... MORE

34th CST, Virginia State Police team up for training exercise
April 2, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team, along with Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians, conducted a training exercise March 19-21, 2024, in Blackstone, Virginia. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct communications exchange with Tajik partners
April 1, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the Virginia Army National Guard’s G6 section conducted a communications exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 25 – 29, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ... MORE

Mother, mentors provide guiding light for engineer captain
March 28, 2024 — When Capt. Catherine Bean raised the idea of joining the military, her mother was an immediate voice of support. At the time, Bean was still in high school. She wanted to join the military, but she also wanted to attend college. With her mother’s guidance, she researched ROTC programs. Then, the two hit the road, logging hundreds of miles together as they visited universities that could offer Bean an ROTC scholarship. Eventually, Bean settled on the Army ROTC program at the University of Mississippi... MORE

Capt. Catherine Bean, on the far right, poses with friends and peers. (Courtesy photo)

Women veterans honored at War Memorial ceremony
March 26, 2024 — Women veterans from all military branches received pins recognizing their service during a Virginia Women Veterans Week event March 21, 2024, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

VNG NCO reflects on being a female in the field artillery
March 25, 2024 — Part of Staff Sgt. Felicia Taylor’s motivation for joining the Virginia Army National Guard was to prove what she was capable of. Her father didn’t think she could make it through Basic Combat Training, or BCT, and she felt certain he was wrong. Then she looked into the benefits of military service and realized she could serve part-time in the National Guard while still working toward her college and career goals... MORE

116th IBCT’s Cooper, 329th’s Bradner are VaARNG best warriors
March 22, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group claimed top honors at the 2024 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 14 - 17, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. ... MORE

ARNG Soldiers from 9 states, territories conduct funeral honors training in Virginia Beach
March 19, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Program hosted 11 Army National Guard Soldiers from nine states and territories for a level 2 funeral honors training course Feb. 26 to March 8, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Soldiers from Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin participated in the two week-long training, which certifies instructors to teach fellow Soldiers the skills, procedures and standards for providing final respects to military veterans... MORE

Soldiers conduct funeral honors training

National Guard service opens doors to full-time employment for new 91B
March 19, 2024 — When Spc. Ricky Wright joined the Virginia Army National Guard alongside his twin sister, Faith, it opened up a new world of possibilities. For high school, Wright attended Dinwiddie High School, as well as Rowanty Technical Center in Carson, Virginia. At Rowanty, he picked up a plethora of automotive skills, as well as an Automotive Service Excellence certification, while he was there. Given that background, it made sense for Wright to enlist as a 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic... MORE

RTI instructors conduct infantry tactics exchange in Tajikistan
March 14, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute conducted an infantry tactics exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan March 3 - 8, 2024, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ... MORE

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