Virginia National Guard

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers hone their skills, increase their knowledge at state food service workshop
June 1, 2022 — More than 20 Virginia Army National Guard food service Soldiers from around the state participated in a food service workshop presented by the Virginia Army National Guard G4 section May 10-18, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In an effort to assist Soldiers in their proficiency in their MOS, half of the week-long course was focused on administrative tasks and half was focused familiarization and knowledge of field equipment... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers hone skills, increase knowledge at state food service workshop

34th CST hosts regional, national partners for joint training exercise
May 13, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team participated in a Joint Hazard Assessment Team training exercise with members of the Maine National Guard’s 11th CST, the FBI, the Virginia Beach Fire Department and the Virginia Beach Police Department April 25- 29, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... MORE

576th Engineer Utilities Detachment begins federal mission
April 20, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group marked the official start of their federal active-duty mission at a deployment ceremony April 19, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers capture 2022 VNG Best Warrior titles
April 6, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion claimed top honors at the 2022 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition April 3, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

576th Engineer Utilities Detachment prepares for overseas mission
February 22, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 576th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group trained on their engineer skills, as well as their individual and detachment-level Soldier skills, Feb. 3-19, 2022, in preparation for their upcoming overseas federal mobilization this spring... MORE

Combat medics receive vital refresher training
February 9, 2022 — More than 20 Virginia Army National Guard combat medics conducted refresher training Jan. 25-19, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Presented by the Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command, the five-day course included classroom and hands-on instruction, followed by a culminating medical assessment and trauma lane... MORE

‘To the Horse!’ Virginia Air National Guard’s Civil Engineering Squadron welcomes its new commander
October 6, 2021 — The 192nd Wing’s 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Oct. 2, 2021, at the State Military Reservation where the unit is stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Col. David Lands, 192nd Mission Support Group commander, presided over the ceremony where Maj. Ayad M. Abisaab assumed command from Lt. Col. Jeffrey E. Getz... MORE

Col. David Lands, 192nd Mission Support Group commander, left, presents the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) guidon to Maj. Ayad M. Abisaab signifying the start of his command during a change of command ceremony Oct. 2, 2021, at State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

COOP exercise tests DMA's ability to relocate in an emergency
September 27, 2021 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs state employees conducted a continuity of operations exercise Sept. 14-17, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The exercise, which simulated an emergency that forced DMA employees to leave Fort Pickett and relocate to Virginia Beach, provided an opportunity for 29 DMA employees to test their network connectivity, perform their work functions from a different location, conduct staff visits and face-to-face coordination with SMR staff and tenant organizations, and troubleshoot their standard operating procedures and continuity binders... MORE

COOP exercise tests DMA ability to relocate in an emergency

Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group begins federal duty, will deploy to Middle East
September 7, 2021 — The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group Headquarters marked the start of its federal active-duty mobilization with a departure ceremony Sept. 4, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

329th RSG begins federal duty, will deploy to Middle East

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 59 cadets from Class 55
September 4, 2021 — The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 59 cadets from Class 55 during a ceremony Aug. 21, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Brig Gen. Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined retired Navy Capt. Mark Chicoine, the Commonwealth ChalleNGe director, and ChalleNGe staff members in congratulating the cadets during the socially distant ceremony, which was live-streamed for family members and friends to view online... MORE

OCS Class 64 launches into Phase II
July 28, 2021 — Twelve Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates completed Phase I of Officer Candidate School and launched their training into Phase II during a recent drill weekend, held July 16-18, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia’s OCS is taught by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute and the first drill of Phase II was held at SMR as a nod to the program’s historic past. ... MORE

Twelve Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates launch into Phase II of Officer Candidate School July 17, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The candidates are part of OCS Class 64, and spent the weekend training at SMR where Virginia’s OCS was founded. The course is taught by cadre assigned to Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

Virginia Guard Soldiers train on basics of Military Funeral Honors
July 28, 2021 — Nine Virginia National Guard Soldiers completed Level 1 Funeral Honors training June 20-27, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Led by the Virginia National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program, the course prepares Soldiers to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition... MORE

Virginia Air National Guard engineers return from Southwest Asia
May 7, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 Virginia Air National Guard engineers reunited with family, friends and fellow Airmen May 5, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, after serving on federal active duty in Southwest Asia since October 2020. Virginia National Guard senior leaders were also on hand to thank them for their service and welcome them home. Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, were responsible for 15 engineer projects in six countries in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel... MORE

Funeral Honors Program hosts training for active-duty Soldiers
May 4, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program hosted basic funeral honors training for 30 U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Fort Eustis-based 7th Transportation Brigade April 19-23, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates 72 cadets from Class 54
April 2, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia- The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 72 cadets from Class 54 during a ceremony March 20, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Walt Mercer, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined ChalleNGe staff members in congratulating the cadets during the socially-distant ceremony, which was live streamed for family members and friends to view online... MORE

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