Virginia National Guard

Virginia Guard helicopter crew helps firefighters battle fire at Henrico landfill
September 13, 2010 — A Virginia National Guard helicopter crew flying a Black Hawk helicopter equipped with a 600-gallon water bucket helped Henrico County firefighters contain a blaze Sept. 8 at The East End landfill... MORE

Lynchburg-based infantry battalion returns to Virginia from Iraqi duty
August 25, 2010 — Approximately 300 Soldiers from the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team returned to the United States Aug. 25, 2010, after serving in Iraq since March 2010. The Soldiers flew into the Roanoke Regional Airport where they were greeted by senior leaders of the Virginia Guard as well as World War II veterans from the 29th Infantry Division Association and then travelled by bus to be reunited with their family and friends in their home armories in Bedford, Christiansburg, Lexington and Lynchburg... MORE

Virginia’s Task Force Overlord prepares for Iraq departure
August 10, 2010 — A sandy windswept parking lot makes an unlikely backdrop for military pageantry, but the Soldiers and leadership of 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment from Lynchburg, Va., did their best to uphold the finest traditions of the Army at their End of Mission and Colors Casing ceremony Aug. 8, 2010, at Contingency Operating Base Adder. The ceremony marked the end of Task Force Overlord’s formal mission in Iraq... MORE

529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducts departure ceremony
March 25, 2010 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group conducted a departure ceremony March 23 at the Sands Armory in Virginia Beach to mark the official start of the unit's federal active duty service. Approximately 80 Soldiers will operate as a command and control headquarters with the mission of planning and executing combat sustainment support for U.S. and coalition forces. The U. S. Army uses the term “sustainment” to describe a wide range of logistics support such as maintenance, food service, fueling, personnel and cargo transportation and medical support... MORE

Virginia Department of Military Affairs plays key role in supporting Governor’s Inauguration
January 20, 2010 — Approximately 300 personnel from the Virginia Department of Military Affairs were on duty in Richmond Jan. 16, 2010, supporting the inauguration of Bob McDonnell as the 71st Governor of Virginia. Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard, Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard and members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a variety of missions including providing ceremonial music, firing a 19-gun salute, conducting a flyover with F-22 Raptors and providing command and control of the inaugural parade elements. A formation of Virginia Guard Soldiers and Airmen also led the inaugural parade... MORE

Virginia National Guard supports Gov. McDonnell Inauguration

'Mullins Corner' rededicated on D-Day anniversary
June 14, 2009 — The 65th anniversary of the World War ll Allied Forces D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France marked the day Soldiers and civilians gathered at the Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center, Fort Pickett site known as “Mullins Corner.”... MORE

Freedom Salutes honor Soldiers of 3rd Bn., 116th BCT
August 27, 2008 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from Charlottesville, Woodstock, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, and Winchester gathered in multiple locations Aug. 16 and 17, 2008, to conduct Freedom Salute ceremonies to honor the service of 3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team during its successful mission in Iraq and Kuwait from September 2007 to April and May 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom... MORE

More than 1,300 Virginia Guard Soldiers return to Virginia after serving for months in Iraq
May 8, 2008 — With the scheduled return of E Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion to Roanoke May 13, 2008, more than 1,300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers have returned home in a 20-day period starting April 24. Approximately 400 Soldiers from the Tidewater area returned home on May 8 and 10 after having served in Iraq and Kuwait since September 2007. The Soldiers are assigned to the Portsmouth-based Headquarters Troop, the Norfolk-based A Troop, the Suffolk-based Troop B and the Virginia Beach-based C Troop... MORE

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Mourn One of Their Own
April 22, 2008 — Several hundred service members filled the chapel here, April 15 to pay their last respects to Staff Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, who died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle April 9, 2008... MORE

Staunton area Va. Guard Soldiers return from Iraq
February 27, 2008 — Approximately 150 Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in Staunton, Va., returned home to Virginia Feb. 21 after serving in Iraq since June 2007. The returning Soldiers were greeted by hundreds of family members, friends and members of the Staunton community... MORE

Va. Guard Soldiers join the Commonwealth's firefighting effort
February 11, 2008 — More than 120 Virginia National Guard Soldiers went on state active duty Feb. 11, 2008, to join in the Commonwealth’s battle against wild fires raging throughout the state. While a Virginia National Guard helicopter dumped 600-galllon buckets of water to help contain fires in the Tappahanock area, more than 100 Soldiers trained at Fort Pickett to be prepared for duty on Feb. 12 in Roanoke and Bedford... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers end mission in Kosovo
November 5, 2007 — The nearly year-long peacekeeping mission in Kosovo for more than 400 Virginia National Guard Soldiers came to an official end Nov. 2 with the transfer of authority ceremony held at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. The traditional exchange of guidons between Brig. Gen. Douglas Earhart of the 29th Infantry Division and Brig. Gen. John Davoren of the 35th Infantry Division marked the end of the KFOR 8 rotation that began Dec. 6, 2006... MORE

Tajik general visits with Virginia troops in Kosovo
October 4, 2007 — This is a story of two states. One is a newly-independent country that has a long, proud national history of more than 1,100 years, while the other is a state in a relatively young nation whose history only spans several centuries... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers stand ready in Kosovo
February 27, 2007 — As the political leaders and diplomats debate the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo, National Guard Soldiers from across the country stand ready to help maintain a safe and secure environment in the troubled region... MORE

Virginia welcomes home 2/224th Aviation from Iraqi deployment
February 25, 2007 — On the day following Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15, 2007, the hearts of over 300 families beat wildly in anticipation of the return of the Virginia National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation, which had served over a year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom... MORE

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