Virginia National Guard

Va. Guard balances state, federal missions in 2015
January 13, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard is a unique dual-status force with a federal mission to serve as a combat reserve to help fight our nation’s wars and a state mission to provide domestic response capability to answer the call of the Governor to assist citizens of the commonwealth during times of need. All through 2015, the Virginia National Guard and its all-volunteer reserve, the Virginia Defense Force, demonstrated at home and across the globe that its forces are ready to respond when needed... MORE

Commonwealth ChalleNGe hosts 325 cadets for athletic, academic competition
June 4, 2015 — Cadets from seven ChalleNGe programs and Jamaica competed in a four-day academic and athletic competition hosted by the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy May 28-31, 2015, at Camp Pendleton, Va. ... MORE

AG visits Tajikistan as part of Va. Guard State Partnership Program
May 5, 2015 — A number of Virginia National Guard Soldiers, including Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Command Sgt. Maj. Alan M. Ferris, the Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, recently traveled to Tajikistan in support of the Virginia National Guard’s relationship with the Republic of Tajikistan as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program... MORE

116th IBCT artillery Soldiers represent modern military at Jamestown history event
March 23, 2015 — Virginia National Guard field artillery Soldiers explained the capabilities of the M119A2 howitzer, answered questions about the Guard and took part in a demonstration of 400 years of Virginia artillery during the Military Through the Ages event March 21, 2015, at Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, Va. Hundreds of re-enactors portrayed military organizations from Roman times, the medieval period, Hundred Years’ War, War of the Roses, French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812 and American Civil War as well as World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War and the Falklands War with Soldiers from the Hampton-based Battery B, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team representing the modern military... MORE

Virginia National Guard field artillery Soldiers explain the capabilities of the M119A2 howitzer, answer questions about the Guard and take part in a demonstration of 400 years of Virginia artillery during the Military Through the Ages event March 21, 2015, at Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, Va.

Va. Guard remembers Airmen, Soldiers on 14th anniversary of 203rd RHS crash
March 3, 2015 — CAMP PENDLETON, Va. — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 203rd RED HORSE Squadron conducted a ceremony March 3, 2015, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach to remember the 21 Airmen and Soldiers killed in the worst peacetime aviation disaster in the history of the National Guard. The 203rd lost 18 Airmen March 3, 2001, when the C-23 Sherpa they were flying in crashed in a cotton field near Unadilla, Ga. In addition to the Air Guard engineers, three aviators from the Florida Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, 171st Aviation Battalion, were killed in the crash... MORE

529th CSSB Soldiers depart for federal duty in Kuwait
June 26, 2014 — Family members, friends, fellow Soldiers and senior state government and military leaders bid farewell to the Virginia National Guard’s Camp Pendleton-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group June 22, 2014, in Virginia Beach. Approximately 70 Soldiers of the 529th are scheduled to report to Fort Hood, Texas, for 30 to 45 days of mobilization training before deploying to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom... MORE

STARBASE Academy blasts off in Winchester
July 24, 2012 — The Virginia National Guard hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Winchester STARBASE Academy July 23 at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester. Students from Frederick Douglass Elementary School of the Winchester Public Schools took part in the first-ever five-day program that ended July 27... MORE

Program Director Susan Corrigan cuts the ribbon July 23 to officially open the STARBASE Academy in Winchester. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard)

Virginia Guard receives funding for STARBASE youth education program in Winchester
November 2, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard has received federal funding to establish a STARBASE youth education program that will be hosted at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center in Winchester... MORE

Virginia Beach-based Air Guard civil engineer squadron returns to Virginia from overseas duty
October 13, 2011 — Family and friends welcomed approximately 120 Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203rd RED HORSE Squadron back to Virginia Oct. 8, 2011, after serving in Afghanistan and other locations in the Central Command area of operations. The unit began federal active duty Feb. 17, 2011, spent several weeks conducting final preparations in Virginia, then spent three weeks in early March at Fort McCoy, Wisc., for Combat Skills Training before heading overseas... MORE

Airmen from 203rd RED HORSE Squadron return to Virginia

Virginia Guard Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force holds departure ceremony for federal duty in Afghanistan
March 30, 2011 — A specially trained platoon of 42 Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers officially began their tour on federal active duty with a departure ceremony held March 28 in Sandston. The platoon will deploy to Afghanistan to serve as a Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Force... MORE

Staunton-based 116th BCT headquarters ordered to mobilize for active duty in Afghanistan
March 24, 2011 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters has received a mobilization order to enter federal active duty in Afghanistan, according to an announcement made March 24, 2011 by Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. Long said approximately 175 Soldiers will begin serving on federal active duty May 15 and will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan... MORE

Virginia Department of Military Affairs plays key role in supporting Governor’s Inauguration
January 20, 2010 — Approximately 300 personnel from the Virginia Department of Military Affairs were on duty in Richmond Jan. 16, 2010, supporting the inauguration of Bob McDonnell as the 71st Governor of Virginia. Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard, Airmen from the Virginia Air National Guard and members of the Virginia Defense Force conducted a variety of missions including providing ceremonial music, firing a 19-gun salute, conducting a flyover with F-22 Raptors and providing command and control of the inaugural parade elements. A formation of Virginia Guard Soldiers and Airmen also led the inaugural parade... MORE

Virginia National Guard supports Gov. McDonnell Inauguration

New Virginia AG hosts first official visit with Tajiks
April 20, 2006 — Commander of the Tajik National Guard, General-Major Rajabali Rahkmanoliev, conducted a visit with the Virginia National Guard on April 17 and 18 as part of the State Partnership Program. During the two-day visit Maj. Gen. Robert Newman, the Adjutant General of Virginia, hosted Rahkmanoliev in Richmond on April 17. ... MORE

Virginia delegation visits Tajikistan
July 14, 2004 — In addition to supporting this country’s Global War on Terrorism both at home and abroad, working to improve the quality of life here in the Commonwealth and answering the call when our communities are in need, the Virginia National Guard has assumed a new role in service to community, commonwealth, and country. The Virginia National Guard, through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, has begun a partnership with the Central Asia country of Tajikistan... MORE

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