Virginia National Guard

Virginia National Guard staged, ready for possible winter storm response operations
December 16, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 60 Soldiers and 20 vehicles for state emergency support duty in the northwest area of the state Dec. 16, 2020, and they are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies respond to potential impacts from heavy snow along the I-81 and I-66 corridors. Expected missions for the VNG include using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to provide transportation for first responders through deep snow or help evacuate citizens in need of shelter as well as providing debris reduction teams with chain saws to help clear roads if needed... MORE

New Soldier & Family Readiness Program provides true one-stop shop for VNG Soldiers, family members
November 13, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. -- In recent months, Virginia National Guard Family Programs has undergone significant changes. The Soldier and Family Readiness Program has transitioned to one all encompassing program to provide assistance and support to Soldiers and their families. This has taken place with programs nationwide and has been put into effect by National Guard Bureau... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldier and Family Readiness Specialists provide assistance and non-medical case management to service members and families on a variety of subjects.

Historic M42 Duster on display at JFHQ thanks to volunteer efforts
November 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — After more than a year of painstaking work by a group of dedicated volunteers, a 1955-dated M42 Duster its now on permanent display outside of the Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The Duster, a tracked, self-propelled 40mm anti-aircraft gun, was moved into place on a concrete pad Oct. 28, 2020, with help from Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Pickett, Virginia, help move a historic M42 Duster into a permanent display spot Oct. 28, 2020, outside of the Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.

VNG looking for new warrant officers
October 19, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Warrant Officer Strength Managers for the Virginia Army National Guard is inviting all individuals who would like to know more on how to become a warrant officer to a conference call that will be held on the last Wednesday of every month... MORE

Virginia National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve candidates swear in as new warrant officers during a graduation ceremony at the conclusion of Warrant Officer Candidate School

AG recognizes financial management, acquisition and internal review workforce
October 14, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, recognized members of the Virginia National Guard’s financial management, acquisition and internal review workforce during an “All Hands” remote meeting Oct. 8, 2020... MORE

34th CST conducts training with federal, state and local first responders
October 6, 2020 — GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team partnered with federal, state and local first responders to conduct a training exercise Sept. 18, 2020, in Glen Allen, Virginia. The exercise capped off a week-long interagency training designed to help grow the partnerships between the different agencies and help them more effectively work together in real-world scenarios... MORE

DMA hosts orientation for new employees
September 23, 2020 — The Virginia Department of Military Affairs hosted five new employees for a quarterly New Employee Orientation Class Sept. 1, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Four new state employees and one Virginia National Guard Soldier on Active Duty for Operational Support orders attended the course. The orientation is a one-day course hosted by DMA leadership including retired Brig. Gen. Walt Mercer, the DMA chief operations officer, and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Tim White, the DMA instructor and trainer. The goal of the program is to not only cover the administrative aspects of in-processing new state workers, but also to help familiarize them with the agency and its organization... MORE

Va. National Guard resuming COVID-19 response support
September 8, 2020 — Approximately 85 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are trained and ready to resume support for Virginia’s COVID-19 response Sept. 8, 2020, and they are available to conduct COVID-19 sample test collection and training on the proper fit and wear of personal protective equipment. They spent about a week training and and preparing to include training with Virginia Department of Health medical professionals Sept. 4. The VNG will also provide regional planners to support Virginia Department of Emergency Management and VDH priorities for COVID-19 response... MORE

New laws benefit DMA, veterans with disabilities
August 21, 2020 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed into law two bills benefitting the Virginia Department of Military Affairs as well as veterans with disabilities during a virtual bill signing ceremony Aug. 4, 2020... MORE

VNG SARC hosts victim advocate refresher training
August 21, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard hosted more than two dozen Airmen, Soldiers and civilians from the Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware National Guard for a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate refresher training course Aug. 10-14, 2020, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The 32-hour training focused on victim advocacy, prevention and ethics and featured guest speakers from local, state and national agencies... MORE

Hurricane exercise prepares VNG for rapid response
August 21, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard Joint Staff completed a virtual hurricane tabletop exercise Aug. 17, 2020, focused on improving the VNG’s ability to rapidly respond to hazardous weather events in a COVID-19 environment. More than 50 Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force took part in the exercise... MORE

VNG Soldiers clear debris in Onancock following storm

Va. Dept. Military Affairs, other agencies partner to protect rare sea turtle nest
August 17, 2020 — The State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is playing host to some very special guests this summer – hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle eggs in a recently-discovered nest in the dunes on the installation’s beachfront... MORE

A loggerhead sea turtle nest is protected on a dune at the beachfront July 30, 2020, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. SMR is working together with the natural resource managers from the Department of Military Affairs and from Naval Air Station Oceana, as well as with scientists from the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and biologists from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to help protect the rare nest until the hatchlings emerge. (U.S. National Guard photo by Mike Vrabel)

VNG Youth Program hosts first Virtual Summer Camp
August 17, 2020 — The Virginia National Guard Youth Program launched its first Virtual Camp July 27-31, 2020. Fifty-three campers and 11 National Guard teens participated in the week long, online experience. Prior to camp, campers and teens received Camp Boxes in the mail containing a t-shirt, water bottle, and a variety of camp packets for the various online sessions they were to engage in throughout the week... MORE

Campers sit and get ready to watch a live stream session during the Virginia National Guard Youth Program’s Virtual Summer Camp July 29, 2020. Fifty-three campers and 11 National Guard teens participated in the week-long, online experience.

34th CERFP provides critical testing support to Commonwealth's COVID-19 response
July 29, 2020 — RICHMOND, Virginia — Nearly 200 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are concluding more than three months of continuous sample collection and other missions in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 response efforts. The Soldiers and Airman are assigned to the Richmond-based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives… ... MORE

34th CST sharpens response skills during exercise in Maryland
July 29, 2020 — GLEN ARM, Maryland — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team honed their chemical and biological recognition skills during a training exercise July 21-23, 2020, at H Steven Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm, Maryland. 18 of the CST’s Soldiers and Airmen… ... MORE

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