Virginia National Guard

ChalleNGe Class 61 hosts Family Day
October 31, 2024 — Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy cadets of Class 61 and their families enjoyed Family Day Oct. 19, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cadets conducted a pass in review and drill and ceremony demonstration for family, friends and Virginia National Guard leadership before enjoying several hours of food, fun and games with their guests... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe Class 61 hosts Family Day

Antiterrorism Officer Course trains Soldiers, Airmen, civilians from around the country
September 5, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard Antiterrorism Program hosted an Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course Aug. 19- 23, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. More than 30 Soldiers and Airmen from the Virginia National Guard, Maine National Guard and New Mexico National Guard, as well as active-duty Soldiers and an Army civilian, attended the weeklong course, which trains students in the roles and responsibilities of an antiterrorism officer... MORE

Workshop brings together MFTs, MRTs for networking, collaboration
August 28, 2024 — Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers, along with three civilians, participated in the second annual Master Fitness Trainer/ Master Resilience Trainer workshop developed by the Virginia Army National Guard Holistic Health and Fitness and the Resilience, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention teams July 31 to Aug. 2, 2024, at Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story and the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Cyber Fortress 3.0 builds resiliency, enhances partnerships
August 1, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard brought together multi-national and inter-agency partners to execute Cyber Fortress 3.0, a water management cyber incident response, to exercise the Commonwealth of Virginia’s cyber incident response process July 7-20, 2024, at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach... MORE

A member of the Finnish Defense Forces collaborates with a Virginia National Guard cyber operator July 15, 2024, during Cyber Fortress 3.0 at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach.

Commonwealth ChalleNGe undergoes a number of changes, gears up for Class 61
June 28, 2024 — Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated Class 60 March 2, 2024, but instead of rolling right into Class 61, the program took a strategic pause, making cultural, physical and organizational changes. Now, after more than three months of training, seminars, brainstorming and implementing those changes, the staff is preparing for the 135 cadets of Class 61 to hit the ground July 16, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach... MORE

SMR employees honored at DMA luncheon
June 4, 2024 — Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, presented DMA state employees awards and recognitions during a luncheon May 22, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, 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

Commonwealth ChalleNGe graduates Class 60
March 12, 2024 — The Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 68 cadets during a ceremony March 2, 2024, at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Retired Army Col. Everton E. Nevers, the Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, joined Jennifer D. Lanz, director of CCYA, and Yolanda Parker, a CCYA graduate and the guest speaker for the event, on stage to congratulate the graduates of Class 60... MORE

New director looks to keep ChalleNGe striving for excellence
February 26, 2024 — Jennifer D. Lanz is the new director of the Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy and started her new position Feb. 1, 2024. Lanz most recently served as assistant principal at Floyd E. Kellam High School in Virginia Beach. Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program and is based at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ChalleNGe is a 17-and-a-half-month program that is structured in a military-style environment designed to promote academics, attention to detail, time management, and leadership, while promoting self-esteem, confidence and pride... MORE

Jennifer D. Lanz, the new director of the Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy, meets with cadets following morning formation Feb. 15, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. L

Va., N.C. National Guard Soldiers learn funeral honors fundamentals
January 5, 2024 — Army National Guard Soldiers from Virginia and North Carolina learned the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans during Level 1 funeral honors training Dec. 11-15, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... MORE

SMR DMA employees celebrated at 2023 Fall Festival
October 2, 2023 — Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees attended the 2023 DMA Fall Festival Sept. 22, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to the catered lunch, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the DMA Chief Operations Officer, and Col. James C. Shaver, Fort Barfoot garrison commander, thanked the group for their hard work and dedication and presented awards to a number of SMR employees... MORE

Virginia Army Guard G4 hosts logistics training workshop
September 13, 2023 — The Virginia Army National Guard G4 hosted a logistics training workshop Aug. 14- 16, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The purpose of the workshop was to synchronize efforts of the supply personnel and maintainers across the state to improve logistical operations and planning at the company and battalion levels, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Rhonda L. Williams, senior enlisted advisor for the Virginia Army National Guard Deputy Chief of Staff G4... MORE

60 campers enjoy 18th annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp
August 30, 2023 — Children of Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen enjoyed a variety of activities at the 18th annual Virginia National Guard Youth Camp July 23-28, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The camp featured educational activities, team building exercises, displays from National Guard units and local first responders, a flag retirement ceremony, an afternoon at the beach and trips to the Virginia Aquarium and Nauticus... MORE

Year-round operations keep SMR buzzing with activity
July 12, 2023 — Summertime is a busy season for Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen throughout the state, but for the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, it’s business as usual. The small installation is packed all year long by a variety of Department of Defense personnel, community programs and civilian organizations... MORE

RSP recruits tackle OPAT, weapons training during drill weekend

Virginia DMA employees at SMR honored at luncheon
June 2, 2023 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief Operations Officer, presented awards to DMA employees as part of a State Employee Recognition Day luncheon May 24, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

DMA employees recognized during SMR luncheon

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