Virginia National Guard

New exhibit highlights Va. Guard service in WWI
May 24, 2017 — A new exhibit highlighting the Virginia National Guard’s service in World War I officially opened May 22, 2017, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. For the National Guard, WWI was significant because it was the first time volunteer state militia units were federalized under U.S. Army structure and deployed overseas for combat operations... MORE

Cake cutting ceremony recognizes 410th birthday of Va. National Guard, Jamestown
May 12, 2017 — A cake cutting ceremony to recognize the 410th birthday of the Virginia National Guard and Jamestown was held May 12, 2017, Sandston, Virginia. The Virginia Guard traces the heritage and traditions of Citizen-Soldier and Citizen-Airmen service to the founding of Jamestown when Capt. John Smith organized the colonists for defense. Since the colony’s founding on May 14, 1607, there has not been a day since without a military presence in Virginia to defend freedom at home and overseas... MORE

Flora shares personal story at Congressional reception
May 4, 2017 — Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General for Strategic Initiatives, shared his personal journey of living for three years in the jungle to avoid being drafted into the communist Vietnamese military after the fall of Saigon to seeking refuge in the United States and attending Virginia Military Institute to becoming a general officer in the U.S. Army at a Congressional reception recognizing the history of diversity in the Army since World War I held May 3, 2017, at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C... MORE

Va. Guard hosts Unity Day event to recognize diversity
May 1, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and senior leaders joined members of the Virginia Defense Force April 26, 2017, for Unity Day, hosted by the Virginia National Guard’s Diversity and Inclusion Council and Equal Opportunity Office at the Mullins Readiness Center in Sandston, Virginia. The event, in its inaugural year, aimed to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the Soldiers, Airmen, civilians and VDF members who make up the Virginia National Guard... MORE

Flora presents lecture on importance of diversity in the military
March 31, 2017 — Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General for Strategic Initiatives, presented a lecture on the topic “Diversity as a Force Multiplier in the Military” March 29, 2017, at the Bedford Welcome Center in Bedford, Virginia. The event was the first of the World War I speakers series sponsored by the Virginia World War I and World War II Commemoration Commission in partnership with the Virginia National Guard... MORE

Rose selected as Chief of General Officer Management at National Guard Bureau
March 31, 2017 — Col. Michelle Rose of the Virginia National Guard has been selected to serve as Chief of General Officer Management at National Guard Bureau, according to an announcement made March 30, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. The assignment is a two-year active duty tour at National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard family, volunteer receive national recognition for service
February 17, 2017 — A Virginia National Guard family was recognized as the Army National Guard Family of the Year and a volunteer was recognized as Regional Volunteer of the Year in an announcement published Feb. 13, 2017, by Maj. Gen. Kevin L. McNeely, the Director of J1 Manpower and Personnel at National Guard Bureau... MORE

Virginia Counterdrug Program supports law enforcement in disrupting drug distribution
January 30, 2017 — You can run but you can’t hide, an old adage that proved true to form for an illicit drug trafficking suspect in Virginia during the summer of 2016. The Virginia Counterdrug Task Force provided aerial reconnaissance from the UH-72A Lakota helicopter with a Mission Equipment Package to support Homeland Security Investigations and the Virginia State Police Taskforce in an effort to detect and disrupt a major cocaine suspect involved in illegal cocaine distribution/trafficking... MORE

Exercise prepares special response force for upcoming evaluation
January 23, 2017 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, conducted a collective training exercise Jan. 21, 2017, at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, to prepare for an external evaluation to be held later this year. The force is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from units based in Petersburg, West Point, Rocky Mount, Danville, Virginia Beach and Langley Air Force Base, as well as Airmen from the Washington D.C. Air National Guard... MORE

Soldiers provide communications support for inauguration
January 22, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the information technology and communication sections of the Virginia Guard joint staff and Army Guard staff provided communications support for the 58th Presidential Inauguration with the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The JISCC is an advanced communications system that can be rapidly deployed to an incident location and uses secure satellite connections to provide the Guard and first responders with high speed internet, voice-over-IP telephones and high frequency radio communications. Prior the inauguration, the Soldiers conducted training with multiple states providing JISCC support... MORE

Virginia Guard supports 58th Presidential Inauguration
January 22, 2017 — Nearly 300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen joined a force of approximately 7,500 National Guard personnel from across the country supporting the 58th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, D. C. Virginia Guard personnel assisted with traffic control as well as communications, medical and chaplain support, and also provided liaison officers to key military and civilian command headquarters in the area. Additional personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force conducted mission command and sustainment support in Sandston and other locations in the state and additional troops were on standby... MORE

AG shares legislative priorities, update on Va. Guard with JLC
January 12, 2017 — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, updated members of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations on the Virginia National Guard and discussed the Va. Guard’s legislative initiatives for the 2017 session of the Virginia General Assembly Jan. 12, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The JLC provides a vehicle for veterans service organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to collaborate with the Department of Veterans Services on meeting the needs of Virginia’s veterans... MORE

Virginia National Guard assists with winter storm response in Hampton Roads
January 11, 2017 — Nearly 200 members of the Virginia National Guard were on duty and ready to assist with the state’s multi-agency response to heavy snow Jan. 7-9, 2017, throughout the Hampton Roads area. Soldiers were staged and ready the morning of Jan. 7 with less than 12 hours notification, and their assistance included recovering a fire truck in Newport News and helping Virginia State Police clear abandoned vehicles in Accomack County... MORE

Va. Guard supports state response to Hurricane Matthew
October 12, 2016 — More than 160 Virginia National Guard Soldiers served on state active duty to assist with the multi-agency state response to Hurricane Matthew Oct. 9-10, 2016, in the Hampton Roads area. Soldiers driving Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks provided high water transportation and were also organized into teams with chain saws to help clear debris and open roads blocked by fallen trees... MORE

Va. Guard receives award for supporting veteran employment
September 28, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard was recognized with the Commonwealth Award along with multiple state agencies for their support of the Virginia Values Veterans Program at a reception Sept. 26, 2016, in Richmond, Virginia. Earlier in the day, Governor Terry McAuliffe recognized businesses for their ongoing commitment to creating employment opportunities for Virginia’s veterans at the Virginia Workforce conference, hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The 669 Virginia businesses certified under the Virginia Values Veterans Program hired over 18,000 veterans, doubling the private sector commitment in a year... MORE

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