Virginia National Guard

116th BCT HQs assumes responsibility for mission in Afghanistan
August 8, 2011 — The Virginia Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters offically began its mission in Afghanistan and took over responsibility from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony held Aug. 7 at Forward Operating Base Eagle. The 116th began federal active duty May 15 and will serve as the higher headquarters in Zabul province for coalition troops... MORE

116th BCT troops meet with Romanian counterparts in Afghanistan
August 5, 2011 — Soldiers of the Staunton-based Virginia Army National Guard 116th Brigade Combat Team met with their Romanian Army counterparts at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Zabul, Afghanistan July 29 to establish a working partnership in Combined Team Zabul... MORE

Female Engagement Team blazes trails in Afghanistan
August 5, 2011 — A Stryker pulls up. The ramp lowers, and four Soldiers dismount, weapons at the ready, assault packs slung over their shoulders. The Afghan sun mercilessly beats down on their solid frames, swollen beads of perspiration growing heavy on each forehead. The leader lifts a hand and wipes the trickle of sweat from her eyes... MORE

Soldiers from across the commonwealth begin federal active duty in Task Force 183
June 2, 2011 — The largest single unit mobilization in the Virginia Army National Guard since World War II officially began June 1 with departure events held in Fredericksburg, Christiansburg, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. Across the commonwealth, family, friends and community members bid farewell to approximately 825 Soldiers bound for federal active duty in Iraq where they will conduct convoy security and base defense operations in support of Operation New Dawn... MORE

Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters departs for federal active duty
May 17, 2011 — Family, friends and members of the Staunton community gathered May 15 for a farewell ceremony for the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters at the Shelburne Middle School gymnasium to officially mark the start of federal active duty for approximately 175 Soldiers. The unit will serve as a command and control headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. Before deploying to Afghanistan, the unit will report to Camp Shelby, Miss., to conduct training for approximately 45 to 60 days... MORE

Soldiers from Staunton-based BCT HQs load out to begin federal active duty

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

Lynchburg-based infantry battalion returns to Virginia from Iraqi duty
August 25, 2010 — Approximately 300 Soldiers from the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team returned to the United States Aug. 25, 2010, after serving in Iraq since March 2010. The Soldiers flew into the Roanoke Regional Airport where they were greeted by senior leaders of the Virginia Guard as well as World War II veterans from the 29th Infantry Division Association and then travelled by bus to be reunited with their family and friends in their home armories in Bedford, Christiansburg, Lexington and Lynchburg... MORE

Virginia’s Task Force Overlord prepares for Iraq departure
August 10, 2010 — A sandy windswept parking lot makes an unlikely backdrop for military pageantry, but the Soldiers and leadership of 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment from Lynchburg, Va., did their best to uphold the finest traditions of the Army at their End of Mission and Colors Casing ceremony Aug. 8, 2010, at Contingency Operating Base Adder. The ceremony marked the end of Task Force Overlord’s formal mission in Iraq... MORE

'Mullins Corner' rededicated on D-Day anniversary
June 14, 2009 — The 65th anniversary of the World War ll Allied Forces D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France marked the day Soldiers and civilians gathered at the Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center, Fort Pickett site known as “Mullins Corner.”... MORE

Freedom Salutes honor Soldiers of 3rd Bn., 116th BCT
August 27, 2008 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers from Charlottesville, Woodstock, Leesburg, Fredericksburg, and Winchester gathered in multiple locations Aug. 16 and 17, 2008, to conduct Freedom Salute ceremonies to honor the service of 3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team during its successful mission in Iraq and Kuwait from September 2007 to April and May 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom... MORE

More than 1,300 Virginia Guard Soldiers return to Virginia after serving for months in Iraq
May 8, 2008 — With the scheduled return of E Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion to Roanoke May 13, 2008, more than 1,300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers have returned home in a 20-day period starting April 24. Approximately 400 Soldiers from the Tidewater area returned home on May 8 and 10 after having served in Iraq and Kuwait since September 2007. The Soldiers are assigned to the Portsmouth-based Headquarters Troop, the Norfolk-based A Troop, the Suffolk-based Troop B and the Virginia Beach-based C Troop... MORE

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Mourn One of Their Own
April 22, 2008 — Several hundred service members filled the chapel here, April 15 to pay their last respects to Staff Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, who died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle April 9, 2008... MORE

Staunton area Va. Guard Soldiers return from Iraq
February 27, 2008 — Approximately 150 Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in Staunton, Va., returned home to Virginia Feb. 21 after serving in Iraq since June 2007. The returning Soldiers were greeted by hundreds of family members, friends and members of the Staunton community... MORE

Infantry soldiers ordered to active duty
February 24, 2004 — Maj. Gen. Claude Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, announced that approximately 570 soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry will enter active federal service at their home armories on March 1st, 2004... MORE

Security mission a "chance of a lifetime" experience
February 27, 2002 — Guard soldiers from all over the Commonwealth of Virginia recently spent several weeks in Utah to support security augmentation at the 2002 Winter Olympics Games. They were part of a force of over 3,000 National Guard soldiers from 25 different states that helped civilian volunteers and law enforcement personnel provide security to the Olympic venues... MORE

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