Virginia National Guard

DiNonno takes command of 29th Infantry Division
August 8, 2023 — Brig. Gen. Joseph DiNonno took command of the 29th Infantry Division from Maj. Gen. John Rhodes Aug. 5, 2023, on the Long Parade Ground at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Rhodes to DiNonno.“Today we look... MORE

29th Infantry Division welcomes Hawley as top NCO
August 7, 2023 — Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley took responsibility as the 29th Infantry Division’s top noncommissioned officer from Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude during a change of responsibility ceremony Aug 5, 2023, at the Long Parade Ground, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presided over the ceremony which... MORE

Expert Infantryman Badge awarded to 14 Soldiers
July 11, 2023 — What 121 Soldiers started, just 14 completed. After five days of testing - plus days, weeks and even years of preparation - 14 Soldiers, including four from the Virginia National Guard, earned their Expert Infantryman Badges June 15, 2023. During a ceremony held on the same Fort Barfoot field where their testing began, the U.S. Army’s newest EIB-holders were pinned with the infantry blue rectangular badge bearing a 1795 Springfield Arsenal Musket signifying that they had successfully completed a quest conquered by only around 15% of those who attempt it. ... MORE

New VNG NCO talks experience from pandemic to promotion
May 12, 2023 — In less than three years, Sgt. Khiyon Bond completed high school during the peak of the global pandemic, joined the National Guard, completed basic and advanced training, deployed to Kosovo and, most recently, became one of the Virginia Army National Guard’s newest noncommissioned officers... MORE

DiNonno to succeed Rhodes as 29th Infantry Division commanding general
April 24, 2023 — Brig. Gen. Joseph A. DiNonno has been selected to succeed Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes as the commanding general of the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, according to an announcement made April 21, 2023, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

Flight dreams realized for new VNG Medevac commander
March 27, 2023 — As a little girl, the sound of helicopter rotor blades spinning over 1st Lt. Valerie Harter’s house would send her running. Her childhood home lay in the flight path of medical evacuation helicopters flying to and from her local hospital. When she heard the rotor blades, whatever she was doing was quickly forgotten and anything that blocked her path to a clear view of the aircraft overhead was demolished... MORE

116th IBCT welcomes new command team
March 9, 2023 — Col. Jared D. Lake and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane D. Wolfe took charge as the new command team for the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr. March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division Commanding General, presided over the ceremony where Lake took command of the 116th from Samulski and Wolfe assumed responsibility from Reed as the brigade’s senior enlisted leader... MORE

Task Force Pegasus Soldiers honored in Williamsburg ceremony
February 21, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Pegasus received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal during a ceremony Feb. 5, 2023, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff, presented the awards... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division receive the Air Medal during a ceremony held Feb. 5, 2023, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Air Medal was awarded to the Soldiers for their life-saving actions taken while deployed as part of Task Force Pegasus and served as the aviation task force for NATO-led Kosovo Force Regional Command-East in 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

29th ID paralegal reflects on belonging, pride
February 13, 2023 — Staff Sgt. Shenika Lightfoot joined the Virginia Army National Guard at the end of 2015, about a year after graduating from James Madison University with a degree in cultural anthropology. In joining the National Guard, Lightfoot was looking for an opportunity to serve her community, while also improving herself... MORE

Governor commends VNG, families after year busy with mobilizations
December 7, 2022 — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 4, 2022, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, to recognize the families of those personnel who are currently on federal active duty deployments. ... MORE

Mother, daughter duo deploy with VaARNG
October 20, 2022 — For a mother, leaving her daughter behind when getting deployed is heartbreaking, but leaving for deployment and seeing your daughter leave for a separate deployment is even harder. For Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Riddle deploying simultaneously with her daughter Spc. Mackenly Riddle has been an overwhelmingly humbling experience... MORE

VNG aviation battalion ends mission in Kosovo
October 14, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard's Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division officially ended its mission in Kosovo as Kosovo Force’s Regional Command-East welcomed the Soldiers of their new aviation task force during a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 11, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo... MORE

Virginia National Guard installation, brigade and battalion command selections announced
September 28, 2022 — The Adjutant General of Virginia announced officers who have been selected for command in the Virginia National Guard at the instillation, brigade and battalion level... MORE

VNG aviators lead KFOR aerial firefighting success
August 18, 2022 — Aviation Soldiers assigned to Kosovo Force’s Regional Command-East have been working hand in hand since arriving in the region to enhance their aerial firefighting capabilities... MORE

KFOR 30’s Training Leads to Aerial Firefighting Success

Naming Commission announces decision to retain 29th Infantry Division patch
August 1, 2022 — The Naming Commission announced Aug. 1, 2022, they will recommend to retain the 29th Infantry Division patch. According to a new release from the Naming Commission, in a July letter to leading members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, retired Navy Adm. Michelle J. Howard, Naming Commission chair, gave notice of the commission’s intent to recommend the Army leave the 29th Infantry Division symbol unchanged, but modify the heraldry description to remove language that implies Confederate service and reconciliation of the North and South... MORE

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