Virginia National Guard

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

VNG celebrates 18 new OCS graduates
October 14, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard welcomed 18 officer candidates from Officer Candidate School classes 64, 65A and 65B during a ceremony held Sept. 18, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Eighteen officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School traditional and accelerated program celebrate their OCS graduation Sept. 18, 2022 at a ceremony held at Fort Pickett’s 183rdRegiment, Regional Training Institute in front of family, friends, fellow Soldiers and leaders. The graduation included candidates from OCS Class 64, as well as 65A and 65B. Retired Col. Fred Bolton served as the guest speaker for the event and Lt. Col. Eric Quinn administered the oath of office to the new lieutenants. The Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided ceremonial music for the occasion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler)

Deployed NCO talks family importance for Hispanic Heritage Month
October 5, 2022 — Sgt. 1st Class Beatrice Nettles first joined the National Guard to help fund her college career. She started her military experience in Florida in 2000 and then transferred to Virginia in 2006. What she quickly discovered was an environment she absolutely loved. Her favorite part of serving in the deep bonds she’s made with those she’s served alongside... 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

Virginia Guard SGM completes master's with USASMA Fellowship Program
September 27, 2022 — In 2021, Sgt. Maj. Jon Whaley was selected for the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy Fellowship Program. Now, he’s partway through the program, and holds a Master of Science degree in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University’s School of Education... MORE

Sgt. Maj. Jon Whaley graduates with a Masters of Science degree in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University’s School of Education during a ceremony held Aug. 23, 2022, at Fort Bliss, Texas. Whaley is participating in the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy Fellowship Program.

TF Red Dragon conducts transfer of authority, ends mission in Horn of Africa
September 20, 2022 — Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as Task Force Red Dragon, conducted a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 19, 2022, to officially end their security mission for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, known as Task Force Wolfhound, assumed responsibility for the mission. Approximately 1,000 Soldiers from across Virginia and Kentucky began serving on federal active duty on Nov. 27, 2021. With their mission complete, they will return to Virginia and Kentucky in the coming weeks... MORE

Bravo Company, 429th Soldiers support Saber Junction 22 in Germany
September 15, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Richmond-based Bravo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided support to Saber Junction 22 Sept. 3-17, 2022, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. ... MORE

Red Dragons earn their spurs in Kenya
September 1, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa held a Spur Ride August 20, 2022, in Manda Bay, Kenya... MORE

VNG Soldiers participate in Regional Cooperation 22 in Tajikistan
August 29, 2022 — Approximately 300 troops from the United States, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Pakistan came together for the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22,” held Aug. 6-18, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The annual exercise, sponsored by U.S. Central Command and primarily conducted by National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, focused on enhancing multinational stability operations and promoting cooperation on counter-terrorism and joint combined capabilities among the U.S. and Central and South Asia, or CASA, nations. ... MORE

U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia work through medical training lanes alongside their counterparts from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense during the exercise “Regional Cooperation 22” Aug. 14, 2022, at a training site near Dushanbe, Tajikistan. RC 22 is an annual, multi-national U.S. Central Command-sponsored exercise conducted by U.S. forces in partnership with Central and South Asia nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

National Guard Soldiers, Airmen support no-cost clinic in Georgia
August 26, 2022 — Virginia and Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen supported a no-cost health clinic offering vision, dental and other basic medical services Aug. 3-18, 2022, in the Columbus, Georgia, area... MORE

National Guard Soldiers, Airmen support free clinic in Georgia

VNG sustainment units conduct command post exercise at SMR
July 30, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted a sustainment command post exercise July 16-20, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

VNG Soldier takes gold at World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
July 25, 2022 — Pvt. Braylon Manuel won gold at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship two years in a row, earning the top spot in both 2021 and 2022. Manuel will be assigned to the Virginia National Guard's 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team following his initial entry training... MORE

TF Red Dragon Soldiers awarded for German Armed Forces proficiency
July 19, 2022 — Fifty-seven Soldiers and Airmen assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge July 4-5, 2022, at Camp Simba, Kenya... MORE

TF Red Dragon Soldiers assigned to CJTF-HOA earn GAFPB in Kenya

Task Force Red Dragon Soldiers save lives in Kenya
July 19, 2022 — Potts turned around to see a large cloud of dust emanating from the tree line where his squad had just come from. Looking around at one another, the squad immediately assumed that there had been a vehicle crash... MORE

Task Force Red Dragon Soldiers saves lives in Kenya

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