Virginia National Guard

Inaugural ROTC marksmanship match hosted by VNG MTU
October 17, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit hosted 64 cadets from 11 Virginia colleges and universities during their inaugural ROTC Pistol Championship, held Sept. 30, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The event ran cadets through a three-stage competition that required them to engage targets from 25 yards under varying time constraints. ... MORE

VNG celebrates commissioning of 10 new OCS graduates
October 2, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 10 new lieutenants to its ranks Sept. 17, 2023, during a commissioning ceremony for the graduates of Officer Candidate School Class 65, as well as Class 66A and 66B, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Friends and family members gathered at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute to celebrate the new lieutenants and the Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment during the ceremony. ... MORE

Ten officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School receive their commissions Sept. 17, 2023, at a ceremony held at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The candidates were part of the traditional OCS Class 65, as well as accelerated Classes 66A and 66B. During the ceremony, they took the oath of office, and were then pinned with second lieutenant rank by family and friends. Col. Kurt K. Kobernik, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, served as the guest speaker for the event, while the 29th Division Band provided musical accompaniment. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

VNG marksmanship experts conduct historic exchange in Tajikistan
September 29, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in marksmanship exchange with female members of Tajik National Police Sept. 5-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program... MORE

Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course prepares Soldiers to become VAARNG’s technical experts
September 15, 2023 — The 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School hosted a Pre-Warrant Officer Candidate Course Sept. 8-10, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Completion of Pre-WOC is a pre-requisite for any Virginia Army National Guard Soldier to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School... MORE

Challenge, camaraderie fuel 11B transition for newest infantry Soldiers
August 8, 2023 — A few times each year, the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducts an 11B Infantry Transition Course. The Soldiers who attend this course, all junior Soldiers and noncommissioned officers, each arrive with their own reason for being there. Some want to test themselves, to see if they can survive and thrive in the infantry. Others are fulfilling childhood dreams, or chasing promotion opportunities. Whatever their reason, their goal is singular: to earn the 11B military occupational specialty and leave Fort Barfoot with a blue infantry shoulder cord... MORE

VNG hosts combined arms marksmanship match
May 29, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit tested the skills of nearly 90 shooters during the Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Match, a three-day combined arms match held May 19-21, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The Virginia National Guard’s annual marksmanship match brought together Soldiers and Airmen from across the state to test their skills on both rifle and pistol. The shooters were challenged with matches that required them to engage targets with both rifle and pistol from a variety of firing positions and distances... MORE

A Soldier shoots a rifle in the prone position in a field.

Virginia NCO, West Virginia Soldier take top honors at Region II Best Warrior Competition
May 26, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard’s Staff Sgt. Dan Abbott and the West Virginia National Guard’s Spc. Bret Williams took top honors after the five-day Army National Guard Region II Best Warrior Competition May 15-19, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

New VNG warrant officers recognized as TACs make national impact
May 16, 2023 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School celebrated and recognized the graduation of six warrant officer candidates from Class 23-001 in a ceremony held May 6, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The class of newly-promoted warrant officers included Soldiers from both the Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guard, as well as the U.S. Army Reserve. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve candidates swear in as new the nation’s newest warrant officers during a recognition ceremony at the conclusion of the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School, taught by cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, May 6, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The ceremony marked the conclusion of WOCS for the six candidates, who were pinned with their new WO1 rank during the ceremony. Chief Warrant Officer 5 John D. Calley, the State Command Chief Warrant Officer, served as the guest speaker for the event.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

WOCs learn to lead, give back to local community
March 27, 2023 — U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve warrant officer candidates completed their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Barfoot-based Warrant Officer Candidate School at the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Virginia National Guard Warrant Officer Candidates complete their community service project at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 806 food bank March 11, 2023, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The WOCs are part of Class 23-001, instructed by cadre assigned to the Fort Pickett-based Warrant Officer Candidate School, 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute. WOCS requires each class to identify, plan, and execute a community service project prior to moving on to the final phase of WOCS. Completion of the community service project provides the candidates an opportunity to demonstrate teamwork, while also practicing many of the same tasks and skills necessary to plan and execute military operations. (U.S. National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton)

VNG Soldiers conduct infantry exchange in Tajikistan
March 7, 2023 — Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an advanced infantry tactics exchange with soldiers and representatives from the Republic of Tajikistan Feb. 26 - March 2, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan... MORE

Kobernik succeeds Martin as 183rd RTI commander
February 21, 2023 — Col. Kurt K. Kobernik took command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute from Col. Charles B. Martin Jr. Feb. 11, 2023, in a traditional change of command ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Martin to Kobernik... MORE

Col. Kurt K. Kobernik takes command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute from Col. Charles B. Martin Jr. Feb. 11, 2023, in a traditional change of command ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Martin to Kobernik. The Troutville-based 29th Division Band provided music for the ceremony. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

National Guard service benefits lead from GED to MBA
February 13, 2023 — When he was just 16-years-old, Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Casey was on his own. His mother had recently died and he had little choice but to figure out how to support himself. “I got my own place, lived on my own,” Casey said. “It was hard to go to high school and work at the same time, so I got my GED.” ... 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)

VNG teams take second, third at regional marksmanship competition
September 19, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airman assigned to units across the Commonwealth made a strong showing at the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region II match, with VNG teams taking second and third place overall at the competition Aug. 26 - 28, 2022, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. ... MORE

Fort Pickett hosts CNGB for weapons qualifications
August 22, 2022 — Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, completed a weapons qualification course for the M17 pistol and M4 carbine Aug. 1, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

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