Virginia National Guard

34th CST trains with federal, state and local authorities
September 30, 2017 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team joined members of the FBI, the Virginia State Police and local law enforcement in a scenario-based training exercise Oct. 24, 2017, in Glen Allen, Virginia. The exercise, dubbed Marble Challenge and led by the FBI, aimed to increase cohesion between the participating agencies. The 34th CST is a response force capable of responding to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incident. At the exercise, they provided reconnaissance and decontamination support, assisted in collecting and identifying samples and supported incident command... MORE

Va. Guard Soldiers support security operations in Charlottesville
August 14, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard rapidly responded when requested to assist local law enforcement and Virginia State Police with security operations Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville after Governor Terry McAuliffe made a state emergency declaration when violence escalated at a “Unite the Right” rally. Guard Soldiers were part of the multi-agency team assembled in advance of the rally, held in Emancipation Park, and helped law enforcement restore order after the gathering was determined to be an unlawful assembly. Later in the day, one person was killed in a car attack and two Virginia State Police troopers died when their helicopter crashed... MORE

Va. Guard briefs Hampton Roads emergency managers on response capabilities
August 10, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provided an overview of the emergency response planning process and static displays of Guard capabilities for the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee meeting Aug. 8, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The working group meeting provided an opportunity to exchange information regarding responsibilities in emergency management with more than 50 members of the HREMC which includes multiple groups from various organizations including local governments, health departments, private companies and the military. The committee meets monthly at various locations throughout the region and promotes the inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency coordination of emergency management issues and fosters emergency preparedness... MORE

12th Annual Youth Camp builds bonds for Va. Guard military youth
August 1, 2017 — More than 70 Virginia National Guard youth from across the commonwealth participated in the 12th Annual Youth Camp, July 23-28, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to the campers, adult and teen volunteers assisted in supporting the Virginia National Guard Youth Program staff in a week full of high energy-outdoor and indoor activities... MORE

Virginia Guard honors volunteers at Volunteer Recognition Workshop
July 12, 2017 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized volunteers from around the state for their contributions in supporting the Virginia National Guard at the 9th Annual State Volunteer Training and Recognition Workshop and Youth Symposium June 24, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

34th CST conducts FTX in Texas, trains on air load plans
July 1, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted a multi-day training exercise to simulate a response to hazardous materials incident June 22-28, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas. Observer controller/trainers from U.S. Army North’s Civil Support Readiness Group-East/West were on hand to assist with the creation of a realistic scenario and provide feedback to help the 34th CST maintain a high state of readiness for their mission of providing support to first responders in potential biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological and explosive incidents... MORE

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

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

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