Virginia National Guard

VNG continues COVID-19 to assist statewide COVID-19 response
April 23, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has more than 500 personnel actively working or ready to support the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 response as of April 27, 2020. VNG Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force are supporting planning teams and assisting with logistics support in multiple… ... MORE

VNG continues to assist statewide COVID-19 response

Fort Pickett, 229th Engineers adjust fire to complete required training remotely
April 9, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion was able to conduct vital unit training remotely April 4-5, 2020, thanks to the innovative thinking of the Fort Pickett Asymmetric Threat Training Support Program team. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to ensure Soldiers…... MORE

VNG supports efforts to fight COVID-19 in Southwest, Central Virginia
April 8, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force continue to support Virginia’s COVID-19 response efforts, including planning and logistics in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Roanoke, Virginia, and supporting at a Virginia Department of Emergency Management supply warehouse in Richmond, Virginia. “Each of these Soldiers…... MORE

429th BSB competes for national food service award
March 10, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Danville-based Headquarters Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team competed in the Philip A. Connelly Food Service Competition March 6, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The 429th is competing for the national award after winning a…... MORE

VNG holds ACFT challenge, names top battalion team
March 9, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Approximately 45 Soldiers from 16 Virginia Army National Guard battalions participated in a Battalion Army Combat Fitness Test Challenge Feb. 28, 2020, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Three-man teams from 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion…... MORE

Staunton recruiter hits the streets with new ruck club
February 26, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Sgt. Donald Arbaugh, a new recruiter with the Virginia Army National Guard, recently started a ruck club in Staunton, Virginia. Arbaugh wanted to do something new that would both serve a recruiting tool for people interested in serving in the National Guard, as well as a way…... MORE

COMMEX help 116th IBCT sharpen communication proficiency
February 12, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Signal Corps Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a massive communications exercise to test all of their systems Feb. 7-9, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exercise brought together more than 120 communications Soldiers from across the entire brigade, in an… ... MORE

COMMEX help 116th IBCT sharpen communications proficiency

Training, combat readiness take center stage in change of command ceremony
February 10, 2020 — WINCHESTER, Va. — A Haymarket, Virginia, resident is now the commander of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Lt. Col. Robert Leseman officially took command of the Winchester-based unit from Lt. Col. Steele McGonegal during a change-of-command ceremony Feb. 8, 2020…... MORE

Red Dragons compete in Scout Platoon Tryouts
January 16, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – Six Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were selected for slots in the battalion’s scout platoon after conducting training on individual skills and team building exercises January 11, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia, as… ... MORE

Mason, Ruhren remembered 15 years after attack
January 13, 2020 — FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Family, friends and current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers gathered to remember two fallen VNG Soldiers Dec. 21, 2019, at the Mason-Ruhren Readiness Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia, marking 15 years since their deaths. Sgt. Nicholas C. Mason and Sgt. David A. Ruhren, both assigned to the… ... MORE

VNG recruit becomes first female to enlist as 11B
January 13, 2020 — FORT LEE, Virginia – One of the Virginia Army National Guard’s newest recruits, Pvt. Ana-Alicia Bennett made history when she enlisted as an 11B Infantryman Dec. 19, 2019, at the Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Lee, Virginia. Bennett is the first female to enlist into the Virginia Army National…... MORE

Thunder Soldiers honored with Order of Saint Barbara
December 11, 2019 — WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Virginia National Guard field artillery Soldiers past and present gathered for the Norfolk-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s regimental muster and Saint Barbara’s Day celebration Dec. 7, 2019, in Williamsburg, Virginia. As part of the festivities, deserving individuals were presented with the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara... MORE

Exchange program benefits VNG Soldiers, partnerships
November 22, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Several Virginia National Guard Soldiers were able to participate in the Military Reserve Exchange Program in 2019, traveling abroad and attaching to foreign armies in a unique opportunity for military professional development. ... MORE

116th Infantry Regiment holds 52nd Annual Muster
November 14, 2019 — STAUNTON, Va. – Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered for an evening of camaraderie at the 52nd annual muster Nov. 9, 2019, at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton, Virginia. The theme of this year’s program was Remembering our History, the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Col. Joseph A. DiNonno, commander of the 116th, also provided a brigade report on the previous training year... MORE

New 116th IBCT deputy commander and joint staff officers announced
October 17, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Christopher J. Samulski will be assigned as the new deputy commander of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to an announcement made Oct. 17, 2019, by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. Samulski replaces Col. Russell E. McGuire who is moving to be the J5 joint strategic plans officer on the Virginia National Guard Joint Staff, and Col. Charles B. Martin, Jr. will become the J3 joint operations officer. All the assignments are effective Nov. 1, 2019... MORE

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