Virginia National Guard

Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 19, 2019 — SUFFOLK, Va. – Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, stood in the turret of a Humvee, prepared to engage targets with his M2 .50 caliber machine gun. “Gunner ready,” he said to his truck commander, as they proceeded down a dusty road. Soon enough, the commander called out an approaching target. “Target identified,” Murphy responded. “500 meters.”... MORE

Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard's Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, engages targets with an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on the Individual Unstabalized Gunnery Trainer during training at the Suffolk Armory in Suffolk, Virginia, June 8, 2019. The IUGT is a computer-based simulator that connects the body of a weapon to a virtual reality system and is used to augment the training on crew-served weapons.

VNG Soldiers to extend enlistments during Army Birthday Ceremony at the Pentagon
June 12, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers will extend their enlistments during the Army Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. June 13, 2019, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley and the Sergeant Major Of the Army Daniel A. Dailey will host the event celebrating the U.S Army’s 244th Birthday... MORE

Bedford ceremonies mark 75th anniversary of D-Day
June 7, 2019 — BEDFORD, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen greeted World War II veterans and acted as military escorts during a roll call honoring their service at the observation of the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6, 2019, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Troutville-based 29th Infantry Division Band performed ceremonial music, and members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to assist local law enforcement with traffic flow, parking and pre-security checks before the event... MORE

VNG rangers test their limits at Best Ranger Competition
May 1, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Fifty-three two-man teams started the Best Ranger Competition early on the morning of April 12, 2019, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Among the rangers to run across the start line were six National Guard Soldiers, three from Virginia, two from Massachusetts and one from Kentucky. The Virginia and Kentucky Soldiers are all assigned to Virginia’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Thunder Soldiers conduct historic waterborne artillery exercise
April 30, 2019 — CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a historic waterborne artillery live-fire exercise during Operation Gator April 24-25, 2019, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The exercise marked the first riverine artillery fire mission for the Army since the Vietnam era... MORE

Top Virginia National Guard units recognized at Virginia Military Ball
April 29, 2019 — NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Virginia National Guard senior leaders recognized the top company-level units in the Virginia Army National Guard and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard for high levels of readiness at the third annual Virginia Military Ball April 27, 2019, in Newport News, Virginia... MORE

VNG leaders tackle ACFT challenge
April 17, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — More than 20 leaders from the Virginia Army National Guard accepted the challenge offered by Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Smith, the Virginia Army National Guard’s state command sergeant major, to take the new Army Combat Fitness Test April 6, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The ACFT will become the U.S. Army’s official physical fitness test of record in less than two years and the event gave leaders a chance to experience it first-hand... MORE

NGB leader visits 116th IBCT training on Army’s new personnel and pay system
April 8, 2019 — STAUNTON, Va. — Brig. Gen. Yesenia R. Roque, National Guard Assistant Director for Army National Guard Personnel and Talent Management, visited Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team April 6, 2019, to see first hand how they are training on the Army’s new personnel and pay system. The Integrated Personnel and Pay System Army, or IPPS-A, went live in Virginia April 5, and Virginia is the second state conducting initial fielding. IPPS-A is an online human resources system that will provide integrated personnel, pay and talent management capabilities in a single system to all Army components for the first time ever... MORE

1-111th showcases firepower during Military Through the Ages event
March 19, 2019 — JAMESTOWN, Va. - Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team showed off their firepower during the annual Military Through The Ages event March 16-17, 2019, at the historic Jamestown Settlement near Williamsburg, Virginia... MORE

Virginia’s Newest Ranger recognized at Washington Capitals Game
February 20, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Just a few days before graduating from his initial training to become an infantryman, Virginia National Guard Soldier Pfc. Gavin Asbury was offered the chance to go to Ranger School. He’d tried to show initiative during his training, had scored high on his physical fitness assessments and exceeded the standard during his training at Fort Benning. His drill sergeants noticed his success and recommended he, along with a handful of his peers, take their training to the next level and try for a spot at Ranger School... MORE

Virginia welcomes first female infantry officer
February 6, 2019 — FORT BENNING, Ga. — On Feb. 1, 2019, 1st Lt. Candice Bowen graduated from the U.S. Army’s Infantry Basic Officer Course and became the Virginia National Guard’s first female infantry officer. She joins a small group of other women who have successfully completed training at Fort Benning to become infantry Soldiers and officers since the career field was opened to women in 2016... MORE

Saber Soldiers provide crew evaluations for active-duty cavalry squadron
January 29, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard cavalry Soldiers provided vehicle crew evaluators for their active-duty counterparts from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during gunnery training Jan. 15 – 26, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Soldiers assigned to the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided the evaluation support for the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division as they conducted crew-served gunnery ranges with multiple vehicles and weapons systems... MORE

Virginia National Guard dedicates new headquarters to D-Day veteran
January 8, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters was officially named and dedicated for Roanoke native and D-Day veteran Sgt. John Robert “Bob” Slaughter Jan. 8, 2019, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard to dedicate new headquarters to D-Day veteran from Roanoke
January 7, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s newly-built Joint Force Headquarters will be officially named and dedicated for D-day veteran Sgt. John Robert “Bob” Slaughter at 10 a.m. Jan. 8, 2019, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, will join members of Slaughter’s family and distinguished guests to dedicate the headquarters building, which officially opened in May 2018... MORE

VNG Soldier competes in World Military Taekwondo Championship
January 4, 2019 — RIO DE JANEIRO — A Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the Manassas-based Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the World Military Taekwondo Championships Nov. 27 – Dec. 3, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro... MORE

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