Virginia National Guard

Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters departs for federal active duty
May 17, 2011 — Family, friends and members of the Staunton community gathered May 15 for a farewell ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters at the Shelburne Middle School gymnasium to officially mark the start of federal active duty for approximately 175 Soldiers. The unit will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. Before deploying to Afghanistan, the unit will report to Camp Shelby, Miss., to conduct training for approximately 45 to 60 days... MORE

Soldiers from Staunton-based BCT HQs load out to begin federal active duty

529th CSSB Soldiers honored at Norfolk Tides opener
April 21, 2011 — The Norfolk Tides honored the Soldiers of the Virginia Beach based- 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at the baseball team’s home opener April 17 at Harbor Park in Norfolk. Nearly 50 Soldiers and their family members were on hand for the game, which featured a 529th CSSB color guard and Maj. Matt Lutz, the 529th executive officer, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. In addition, dozens of photos from the unit’s recent deployment to Afghanistan were shown on the stadium video screen during the seventh inning stretch... MORE

529th CSSB honored at Norfolk Tides opening day

Virginia Guard Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force holds departure ceremony for federal duty in Afghanistan
March 30, 2011 — A specially trained platoon of 42 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers officially began their tour on federal active duty with a departure ceremony held March 28 in Sandston. The platoon will deploy to Afghanistan to serve as a Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force... MORE

529th CSSB returns to United States from Afghanistan duty
March 24, 2011 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned to Virginia over the course of several days from March 21-24, 2011, after having served on federal active duty in Afghanistan since May 2010... MORE

Virginia Guard sustainment battalion Soldiers return to Virginia after Afghanistan duty

Staunton-based 116th BCT headquarters ordered to mobilize for active duty in Afghanistan
March 24, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters has received a mobilization order to enter federal active duty in Afghanistan, according to an announcement made March 24, 2011 by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. Long said approximately 175 Soldiers will begin serving on federal active duty May 15 and will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan... MORE

Aviation battalion conducts send-off before deployment to Iraq
March 4, 2011 — The “Punishers” of the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment conducted a departure ceremony Feb. 25 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston to bid farewell to the mobilizing Soldiers and to mark the official start of the unit's federal active duty service in Iraq... MORE

Departure ceremony held for Sandston-based Virginia Guard aviati

Virginia Guard battalion helps establish Afghan Transportation Network
January 27, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion has been instrumental in reaching an important milestone for sustainment operations in Afghanistan with the successful establishment of the Afghan Transportation Network. The first five trucks of the ATN departed Shindand Air Base Jan. 15, 2011, loaded with cargo for support of units of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division located in Herat, Afghanistan... MORE

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

Virginia Beach-based military police company returns to Virginia from Iraqi duty
July 30, 2010 — Senior leaders from the Virginia National Guard joined family, friends and members of the Virginia Beach community July 29 to welcome home Soldiers from the Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company after serving in Iraq since October 2009. Approximately 80 Soldiers from the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas returned to Birdneck Elementary School and approximately 40 Soldiers from the Roanoke and Southwest Virginia area returned to Patrick Henry High School to be reunited with their families. The Soldiers began their tour on federal active duty Aug. 3, 2009... MORE

Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company returns to Virginia

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

229th MPs help protect Vice President Biden in Iraq
March 24, 2010 — Soldiers from the 229th Military Police Company stepped away from normal Operation Iraqi Freedom duties to perform a bigger task: Provide route security here for the United States’ second-in-charge... 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

229th Military Police Company adopts Iraqi school
January 10, 2010 — The 229th Military Police Company took the first steps in a humanitarian mission to assist a grade school Dec. 23 in the Furat neighborhood of Baghdad. Capt. David Sutton, commander of the 229th MP Company stated that this is an important mission because the children at this elementary school are from our immediate area, and that it is important to have a positive impact on the children and the community... MORE

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