Virginia National Guard

From ambulances to artillery: one NCO’s pursuit of military & medical dreams
April 15, 2024 — As a young adult, Sgt. Stella Escano knew she wanted to attend medical school. She also knew she wanted to eventually serve in the military, but wanted to get her education locked in first. Growing up in and around Norfolk, Virginia, an area with a dense military presence, Escano was quite familiar with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, but neither of those options felt like the right choice for her. So, she went online and did some research... MORE

Sgt. Stella Escano takes a written exam alongside her fellow competitors at the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Best Warrior Competition held Jan. 5-7, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. (Courtesy photo)

St. Lo Soldiers conduct air assault during drill weekend
April 12, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers with the Charlottesville-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted aviation training with crews with the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division April 5, 2024, at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave, Virginia. The Soldiers' family members were invited to attend the training to demonstrate the rigorous routines they undergo when they are away from their families and training... MORE

229th BEB Soldier earns Expert Soldier Badge
April 9, 2024 — Maj. Josh Favaro, executive officer of the Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineering Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team earned the Expert Soldier Badge March 15, 2024, at Fort Walker, Virginia. In doing so, Favaro became the first Soldier to earn the ESB while assigned to the Virginia National Guard... MORE

VNG NCO reflects on being a female in the field artillery
March 25, 2024 — Part of Staff Sgt. Felicia Taylor’s motivation for joining the Virginia Army National Guard was to prove what she was capable of. Her father didn’t think she could make it through Basic Combat Training, or BCT, and she felt certain he was wrong. Then she looked into the benefits of military service and realized she could serve part-time in the National Guard while still working toward her college and career goals... MORE

116th IBCT’s Cooper, 329th’s Bradner are VaARNG best warriors
March 22, 2024 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group claimed top honors at the 2024 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition March 14 - 17, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. ... MORE

From Marine to Guard, a Red Dragon sniper’s journey across continents
February 26, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Joshua Johnson’s journey into the military began with a casual invitation from a friend to go “hang out” at the local U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station. His friend had just joined the Marine Corps Reserve and, at 18, Johnson didn’t even really know what a Marine was. He’d just graduated high school and said, “I wasn’t really doing anything.” When the recruiter asked if he wanted to blow stuff up, Johnson said yes, and enlisted as a combat engineer... MORE

VNG NCO qualifies as Ranger Instructor, serves as RTAC cadre
February 9, 2024 — Sgt. Daniel Leikin joined the Virginia Army National Guard in 2020, just a few months after graduating from high school. In the less than four years since then, he’s been busy. He completed his initial training as an infantryman, then Ranger School, deployed with Task Force Red Dragon and then earned himself a stack of badges to go along with his tab, completing both Air Assault and Airborne School, and earning his Expert Infantryman Badge. It’s his most recent accomplishment though, that he’s the proudest of... MORE

Field artillery NCO reflects on quick-paced military journey
February 6, 2024 — For Sgt. Christopher Brown, the best part about serving in the field artillery is the camaraderie he’s found there. He serves in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Hanover, Virginia, as a 13B Cannon Crewmember. He’s been in the military for about half a decade, but has already experienced a handful of schools and both an overseas and stateside deployment... MORE

A Soldier poses in front of a field artillery sign.

Martin takes command of VaARNG from Gallagher
January 11, 2024 — Col. Charles B. Martin Jr. was promoted to brigadier general and formally took command of the Virginia Army National Guard from Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher during a change of command ceremony Jan. 6, 2024, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. ... MORE

116th Infantry Regiment holds 55th Annual Muster on Veterans Day
November 29, 2023 — Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to honor the unit’s history and enjoy an evening of camaraderie at the 55th annual 116th Infantry Regiment Muster Nov. 11, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia. Congressman Ben Cline and Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, both delivered remarks and Col. Jared Lake, commander of the 116th IBCT, provided an update on the brigade’s activities over the last year. ... MORE

Native name inspires strength, pride for 1-116th platoon leader
November 21, 2023 — First Lt. Gavin Steel traces his Native American heritage through the bloodlines of both his maternal and paternal grandmothers. His maternal grandmother comes from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, located today in Western North Carolina. On the paternal side, his grandmother comes from the Coharie Indian Tribe, today located in the southeastern region of North Carolina... MORE

Martin to succeed Gallagher as VNG Assistant Adjutant General - Army
November 14, 2023 — Col. Charles B. Martin Jr. will succeed Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher as the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General - Army according to an announcement made Nov. 6, 2023, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia... MORE

229th BEB leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
September 27, 2023 — Key leaders of the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and other Virginia National Guard personnel traveled to Finland to observe a Local Defense Exercise, or PAPU, Sept. 4-9, 2023... MORE

St. Lo Soldiers honor heritage during “Chubby Cup” competition
September 25, 2023 — Nine teams of Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the battalion’s Carl “Chubby” Proffitt Jr. Squad Competition Sept. 9, 2023, at Fort Walker, Virginia... MORE

Red Dragon shooters compete in Finnish sniper championship
September 5, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in HÄYHÄ 2023, a Finnish Sniper Championship, held Aug. 25-27, near Taipalsaari, Finland. ... MORE

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