Virginia National Guard

Ceremony celebrates Virginia National Guard’s 414th birthday
May 19, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 414th birthday May 14, 2021, at the Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Command Chief Master Sgt. Kelly Reich, Virginia Air National Guard Command Chief, and Sgt. Korion Hunt, a Virginia Army National recruiter assigned to Newport News, cut the cake flanked by Acting Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Kathleen Jabs and Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

29th ID cases colors, begins federal active duty
May 19, 2021 — BOWLING GREEN, Va. — Virginia and Maryland National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division officially begin federal active duty with a casing of the colors ceremony May 15, 2021, in Bowling Green, Virginia, and they will uncase the colors when they arrive in the Middle East. More than 500 Soldiers of the 29th will conduct a 10-month deployment in the Central Command Area of Operations as Task Force Spartan to provide leadership, command, control and in-depth staff analysis for Operation Spartan Shield. ... MORE

Sen. Kaine thanks 229th Chemical Co. Soldiers during ceremony
April 21, 2021 — ROCKY MOUNT, Va. — U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine visited with and thanked Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group during a ceremony celebrating the unit’s recent successes April 10, 2021, in Rocky Mount, Virginia. ... MORE

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine visits with and thanks Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Rocky Mount-based 229th Chemical Company, 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group during a ceremony April 10, 2021, in Rocky Mount, Virginia.

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

Virginia National Guard reconfiguring task force to provide mobile vaccination teams
March 15, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard is reconfiguring the task force currently conducting COVID-19 testing and mask fit training to create mobile vaccination teams to provide additional capacity for the statewide vaccination program... MORE

Virginia National Guard personnel administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam March 15, 2021, at the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia.

Fort Pickett vaccination clinic open to service members, TRICARE beneficiaries, DoD retirees
March 15, 2021 — BLACKSTONE, Va. -- The Virginia National Guard COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is fully operational at Fort Pickett, and any service member, TRICARE beneficiary or Department of Defense retiree may schedule an appointment to receive their vaccination. Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees and members of the Virginia Defense Force are also eligible to receive a vaccination at the clinic... MORE

VNG opens COVID-19 vaccination clinic, encourages personnel to get vaccinated

DMA's first mentorship program marks success with graduation
March 9, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — After a year of overcoming challenges in order to learn from each other, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs’ first-ever mentorship program class of mentors and mentees graduated during a ceremony Feb. 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Participants in the Virginia Department of Military Affairs’ first-ever mentorship program graduate during a ceremony Feb. 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

203rd RED HORSE honors its fallen on tragedy’s 20th anniversary
March 5, 2021 — Airmen from the 192nd Wing’s 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) came together March 3, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of what's known as the worst peacetime aviation disaster in National Guard history and the worst loss of life in the Virginia National Guard since World War II. ... MORE

An honor guard Airman lays a wreath in front of a memorial

VNG completes mission in Washington, D.C.
February 11, 2021 — WASHINGTON, D.C. — The last group of Virginia National Guard personnel assisting civilian law enforcement with security operations at the 59th Presidential Inauguration and the days before and after the event departed Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2021... MORE

Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine present thank you letters to Col. Chris Samulski, commander of the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Feb. 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Rose promoted to major general
February 10, 2021 — PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Brig. Gen. Michelle M. Rose was promoted to major general Dec. 18, 2020, during a ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michelle M. Rose is promoted to major general Dec. 18, 2020, during a ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

29th Infantry Division to deploy to Middle East in Spring 2021
February 4, 2021 — FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division has received a mobilization order for federal active duty in the Middle East, according to an announcement made Feb. 4, 2021, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. In Spring 2021, more than 500 Soldiers of the 29th will begin a 10-month long deployment in the Central Command Area of Operations as Task Force Spartan to provide leadership, command, control and in-depth staff analysis for Operation Spartan Shield. While based at Fort Belvoir, Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Division live all throughout Virginia and Maryland... MORE

Va. National Guard will have 1,000 personnel remain on duty in Washington, D.C.
January 23, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va.— Approximately 1,000 Virginia National Guard personnel will be among more than 7,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from dozens of states remaining in Washington, D.C. following the 59th Presidential Inauguration to provide enduring support to local and federal authorities, according to an announcement made Jan. 23, 2021, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard supports 59th Presidential Inauguration

Virginia National Guard supporting 59th Presidential Inauguration
January 15, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has approximately 2,400 personnel on the ground in Washington D.C. as of Jan. 14, 2021, assisting civilian law enforcement in protecting property and providing a safe environment for citizens to exercise their right to peacefully assemble and protest leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20... MORE

Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the 192nd Security Forces Squadron, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing stand guard on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 13, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

Virginia National Guard supporting security effort in Washington, D.C.
January 9, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has approximately 1,000 personnel on the ground in Washington D.C. as of Jan. 9, 2021, and additional personnel will join in the coming days to assist civilian law enforcement with security operations. The VNG plans to provide about 2,000 personnel total to join a force of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from neighboring states expected to reach 6,200 by the end of the weekend... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 229th Military Police Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, stand guard at their post Jan. 9, 2021, in Washington, D.C.. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from several states have traveled to the National Capital Region to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

Virginia National Guard begins COVID-19 vaccinations
December 31, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Members of the Virginia National Guard began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 31, 2020, as part of the national rollout established by the Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau... MORE

Capt. Wilifred Hale receives a COVID-19 vaccination from Sgt. Anna Carter Dec. 31, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category