Virginia National Guard

Challenge, camaraderie fuel 11B transition for newest infantry Soldiers
August 8, 2023 — A few times each year, the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducts an 11B Infantry Transition Course. The Soldiers who attend this course, all junior Soldiers and noncommissioned officers, each arrive with their own reason for being there. Some want to test themselves, to see if they can survive and thrive in the infantry. Others are fulfilling childhood dreams, or chasing promotion opportunities. Whatever their reason, their goal is singular: to earn the 11B military occupational specialty and leave Fort Barfoot with a blue infantry shoulder cord... MORE

DiNonno takes command of 29th Infantry Division
August 8, 2023 — Brig. Gen. Joseph DiNonno took command of the 29th Infantry Division from Maj. Gen. John Rhodes Aug. 5, 2023, on the Long Parade Ground at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Rhodes to DiNonno.“Today we look... MORE

29th Infantry Division welcomes Hawley as top NCO
August 7, 2023 — Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley took responsibility as the 29th Infantry Division’s top noncommissioned officer from Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude during a change of responsibility ceremony Aug 5, 2023, at the Long Parade Ground, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony which... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan
August 3, 2023 — Five Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan July 24-29, 2023, in Romit, Tajikistan... MORE

Johnson presented Order of Martin of Tours award
July 26, 2023 — Lt. Col. Brett Johnson, the Virginia Army National Guard full-time support chaplain, received the Order of Martin of Tours award from Col. Seung Lee, the VNG state chaplain, as part of his promotion ceremony May 14, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Humility, teamwork keys to success for Sapper honor grad
July 25, 2023 — Following four fierce weeks at the U.S. Army’s Sapper Leader Course, Staff Sgt. Borys Vargas, a combat engineer assigned to the Virginia National Guard, was named distinguished honor graduate for Course 23-005. While Vargas appreciated the honor, he said he didn’t see himself as the distinguished honor graduate... MORE

Volunteers restore Korean War-era M7B2 ‘Priest’ at VNG headquarters
July 25, 2023 — A group of volunteers and retirees dedicated to restoring and preserving artifacts and military vehicles for display at the Virginia National Guard’s headquarters have turned their attention to a Korean War-era tracked vehicle, plowing through paint, rust and grime to expose and preserve the history underneath. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers and Airmen complete first two weeks supporting Operation Lone Star in Texas
July 24, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen completed their second full week supporting Operation Lone Star July 24, 2023. The troops are staffing observation posts and conducting roving patrols along the border between Texas and Mexico to observe and detect potential illegal border crossings and criminal activities and report to Texas law enforcement authorities... MORE

Abbott competes in Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Alaska
July 21, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staff Sgt. Dan Abbott, a 12N horizontal construction engineer assigned to Fort Barfoot, competed in the 2023 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, hosted by the Alaska National Guard, July 8 - 13, 2023, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. ... MORE

Expert Infantryman Badge awarded to 14 Soldiers
July 11, 2023 — What 121 Soldiers started, just 14 completed. After five days of testing - plus days, weeks and even years of preparation - 14 Soldiers, including four from the Virginia National Guard, earned their Expert Infantryman Badges June 15, 2023. During a ceremony held on the same Fort Barfoot field where their testing began, the U.S. Army’s newest EIB-holders were pinned with the infantry blue rectangular badge bearing a 1795 Springfield Arsenal Musket signifying that they had successfully completed a quest conquered by only around 15% of those who attempt it. ... MORE

Va. National Guard troops depart for Texas border support mission
July 8, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen departed for Texas July 8, 2023, where they will assist the Texas Military Department and Operation Lone Star border security operation... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade leads Cyber Shield 2023
June 26, 2023 — In the early 2000s the Defense Department and the National Guard Bureau came to the quick realization that cyber threats were on the rise and attack frequencies were only going to become more prominent within the U.S. and abroad. In fact, the number of cyber threat actors increased in unimaginable numbers in which their methods of attacking became more dynamic and complex. In response, the Virginia National Guard activated the 91st Cyber Brigade in 2017... MORE

Senior leaders of 91st Cyber Brigade talk to each other

Engineers begin construction of new demo range at Fort Barfoot
June 22, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to engineer units from across the state had the unique opportunity to work together to begin construction on a new light demolition range during annual training June 3-17, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

Grant furthers testing of hemp-based targets at Fort Barfoot
June 22, 2023 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs recently received a $1,000 grant in the recycling category from the “Keep Virginia Beautiful” organization. The money will be used to further research and testing of hemp-plastic targets at Fort Barfoot, according to John Sadler, Fort Barfoot integrated solid waste manager... MORE

Grant allows further testing of hemp-based targets at Fort Barfoot

1710th, 1032nd conduct transportation missions during AT
June 21, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group recently conducted various missions across the country in support of the Army Materiel Command during their annual training. ... MORE

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