Virginia National Guard

VNG’s first Filipino battery commander continues family military legacy
May 26, 2022 — Capt. Samuel Ignacio is the first Filipino American to serve as a battery commander in the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He started his career in 2005 as an enlisted Soldier, serving for seven years as a 42A Human Resources Specialist before earning his commission. ... MORE

Food & family key to culture for VNG Soldier
May 23, 2022 — When Spc. Michael Delos Trinos thinks about his Filipino heritage, what comes to mind first is the food and the importance of family. A first generation Filipino American, Delos Trinos is currently assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division. He recently completed Basic Combat Training, or BCT, and plans to start Officer Candidate School later this year. His favorite Filipino food is lechon, a roasted suckling pig usually stuffed with spices and seasonings and cooked over an open flame which results in a flavorful offering of crispy-skinned pork. ... MORE

Maintenance key to Black Hawk helicopters’ ability to accomplish mission in Kosovo
May 13, 2022 — U.S. Army helicopter repairers and maintainers play a critical role in keeping aviation assets flying through routine upkeep and conducting on-the-spot repairs, keeping helicopters safe and ready to fly in hundreds of Army missions... MORE

Virginia National Guard officer talks motivation, training to become Army aviator
May 2, 2022 — Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Jonathan Murray, deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, is the medical evacuations, or MEDEVAC, operations officer for Kosovo Force Regional Command- East and is living his dream of flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. ... MORE

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers capture 2022 VNG Best Warrior titles
April 6, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion claimed top honors at the 2022 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition April 3, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

29th ID returns to USA after Spartan Shield rotation
March 25, 2022 — The final group of Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters return to the United States March 24, 2022, and were greeted by senior leaders from the Virginia National Guard when their plane landed at Fort Hood, Texas... MORE

29th ID concludes tour as Task Force Spartan
March 22, 2022 — Maj. Gen. John Rhodes, commanding general, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, relinquished command of Task Force Spartan to Maj. Gen. William Blaylock II, commanding general, 35th Infantry Division, Kansas Army National Guard, March 20, 2022, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait... MORE

Education center offers opportunities to learn, lead for evacuated Afghans
March 7, 2022 — Evacuated Afghan children who have been out of school since August 2021 are back in class thanks to a newly-renovated community education center here. Located across the street from where Afghan evacuees are temporarily staying while awaiting processing for onward movement, the center is opened to adults and children and a result of collaboration efforts among multiple organizations currently participating in the largest evacuation of at-risk personnel since the Vietnam War, said Maj. Delphoney Kargbo, a 29th Infantry Division chaplain currently supporting Task Force Liberty. ... MORE

29th ID Band troops balance Soldier tasks, musical performances in unusually busy year
February 22, 2022 — Between departure ceremonies, a gubernatorial inauguration and other public performances, the Virginia National Guard’s most publicly-visible Soldiers have been busier than usual this training year. The 29th Infantry Division Band, which averages between 35-40 missions per year, has already performed 25 missions since Oct. 1, 2021, and many more are on the way... MORE

2-224th Aviation Regiment mobilizes to KFOR
February 14, 2022 — Soldiers and aviators of 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, Virginia Army National Guard, successfully conducted their mobilization and final readiness checks for their deployment to the Republic of Kosovo... MORE

U.S., Jordanian Soldiers build relationships through language
February 4, 2022 — Relationships are important, and intentional communication is essential to building relationships. Soldiers assigned to units composing Task Force Spartan are committed to establishing communication with their Jordanian partners while serving at the Joint Training Center near Zarqa, Jordan.These Soldiers are in a unique position, having Jordanian... MORE

Brothers in Arms: Virginia siblings serve together in Kuwait
February 1, 2022 — For many service members and veterans, the military is often characterized as a “brotherhood” in which strong bonds are built through shared experiences. For Sgt. 1st Class Robert Johnson, G32 Aviation noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Task Force Spartan, and Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Johnson, Air Mission Request noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Task Force Spartan, their “brotherhood” began long before either of them joined the military. ... MORE

VNG brigade HQs, aviation battalion begin mission to Kosovo
January 12, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters officially began federal active duty Jan. 5, 2022, to take responsibility for the NATO-led Kosovo Force Regional Command-East, and the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division started their mobilization as their aviation task force Jan. 2... MORE

29th ID Soldiers who served in Kosovo serve together again in Kuwait
January 4, 2022 — It was just over 15 years ago that 12 Soldiers who are presently deployed with the 29th Infantry Division as Task Force Spartan were part of a brigade-sized element that assumed the duties of Task Force Falcon, Kosovo Force 8, Multinational Task Force-East based at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo... MORE

Governor, First Lady host families of deployed VNG Soldiers, Airmen
January 3, 2022 — Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the First Lady of Virginia Pam Northam hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 11, 2021, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

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