Virginia National Guard

116th IBCT Headquarters recognized for federal active duty in Kosovo
March 9, 2023 — Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, 29th Infantry Division commanding general, presented the Governor’s National Service Medal to Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters March 5, 2023, in Staunton, Virginia, to recognize their federal active duty in Kosovo. Delegates David Reid and Ellen Campbell were also on hand to thank Soldiers for their service... MORE

1-116th NCO named top enlisted graduate at Ranger School
March 7, 2023 — After months of grueling effort, Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson, a sniper team leader in the Virginia Army National Guard, completed Ranger School, earned the coveted Ranger Tab and was named the enlisted honor graduate for his Ranger School course. Dawson started Ranger School with 328 other Soldiers, graduated as one of 71 to avoid a recycle and was one of only three National Guard Soldiers to graduate with his class of 125 total graduates. Dawson’s father, who earned his own tab in 1990, was there to congratulate his son and pin his tab Jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia... MORE

Staff Sgt. Matthew Dawson graduates Ranger School as the enlisted honor graduate during a ceremony held jan. 27, 2023, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Dawson is assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as a sniper team leader and completed Ranger School immediately following his deployment to the Horn of Africa as a sniper team leader. (Courtesy photo)

Thunder Soldiers honored for federal service
March 2, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, received the Governor’s National Service Medal Feb. 25, 2023, in Hanover, Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia, to recognize their recent federal service in Iraq... MORE

Alpha Co. Soldiers honored at Bedford Welcome Home Parade
February 13, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bedford-based Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were honored for their federal active duty service in Africa at a welcome home parade hosted by the Bedford Boys Tribute Center Feb. 11, 2023, in Bedford, Virginia... MORE

Reed talks pathway to success as Va. Army National Guard’s top NCO
February 8, 2023 — During a career spanning across four decades, Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed Jr. followed a path that led him up and through the enlisted ranks to the top enlisted spot in the Virginia Army National Guard. His career started in 1982 and today, he’s the Virginia Army National Guard’s Command Sergeant Major... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed Jr. takes responsibility as the Virginia Army National Guard’s top noncommissioned officer from Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Smith Jr. during a change of responsibility ceremony Jan. 7, 2023, at the Virginia National Guard Sergeant Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Land Component Commander, presided over the ceremony. Smith currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader to the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton)

UAS detachment recognized in Fort Pickett ceremony
January 25, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Blackstone-based Detachment 1, Delta Company, 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal during a ceremony Jan. 21, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger was on hand to congratulate the Soldiers, thank them for their service and welcome them home alongside Lt. Col. Robert P. “Beau” Mason, commander of the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion... MORE

Spanberger helps recognize Soldiers at Fort Pickett

Task Force Red Dragon Soldiers recognized for federal active duty in Africa
January 25, 2023 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon received the Virginia Governor’s National Service Medal Jan. 21, 2023, at multiple locations across Virginia to recognize their federal active-duty service in Africa from November 2021 through September 2022. ... MORE

2-183rd Soldier profiled by FUTURES magazine
January 24, 2023 — Pfc. Noor Habr, assigned to the Virginia Beach-based Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, spent three days being photographed and interviewed for FUTURES magazine Jan. 19-21, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ... 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

Current, former 116th members come together at 54th annual Regimental Muster
November 30, 2022 — 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 54th annual Regimental Muster Nov. 13, 2022, in Staunton, Virginia. ... MORE

Current, former members of the 116th come together at 54th annual Regimental Muster

1-111th Field Artillery officially ends mission in Iraq
November 16, 2022 — Virginia and Ohio National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 12, 2022, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to officially end their short-range air defense mission for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve... MORE

Red Dragon conference room named for D-Day veteran
November 12, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard’s Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team dedicated the command conference room in their armory to Col. Thomas S. Dallas Sr. Nov. 10, 2022... MORE

VNG's 116th IBCT HQs officially ends mission in Kosovo
November 4, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Headquarters officially ended their mission as Task Force Saint Lo and the mission command headquarters for NATO Kosovo Force Regional Command-East with a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 2, 2022, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo... 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

Whisler reflects on 40 years of military service
October 20, 2022 — Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gregg K. Whisler, equal opportunity advisor, Kosovo Force Regional Command-East, will enter his 40th year of service on Nov. 9, 2022, and will retire in April 2023, just months upon returning from his current deployment to the Western Balkans. ... MORE

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