Virginia National Guard

Virginia National Guard welcomes nine new officers
May 4, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard welcomed nine new lieutenants to their ranks in a ceremony held April 25, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The new lieutenants are part of the Virginia National Guard’s winter accelerated Officer Candidate School Class 64A. Col. Doyle Gillis, the Virginia National Guard’s director of manpower and personnel, served as the guest speaker for the event, while Lt. Col. James C. Shaver, commander of 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, administered the oath of office. ... MORE

Nine Virginia Army National Guard officer candidates celebrate their graduation from Officer Candidate School April 25, 2021, at a ceremony held at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The candidates, all part of the winter accelerated Class 64A, took the oath of office and were then pinned with second lieutenant rank by family and friends. Col. Doyle Gillis, the Virginia National Guard’s director of manpower and personnel, served as the guest speaker. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

VNG WOCs check off milestones on way toward course completion
April 1, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s warrant officer candidates hit a few milestones during their March drill weekend. On March 19th, 2021, candidates volunteered at the Chesterfield Food Bank where they helped sort, load and distribute thousands of pounds of food to hundreds of local residents. Then, on the following day, they presented their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Warrant officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia National Guard’s Warrant Officer Candidate School present their class song and sign to Col. Charles B. Martin, commander of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, March 20, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The class includes both U.S. National Guard Soldiers from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. The candidates will head south to Fort McClellan, Alabama, in at the end of April to begin Phase III and the final step toward becoming warrant officers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt.1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

1-116th, MTC Soldiers claim titles at 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition
March 24, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett have claimed top honors at the 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition, which concluded with an awards ceremony March 21, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claim top honors at the 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition, held March 18-21, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Soldier's 80-lb weight loss journey leads to military service
December 2, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — When he was 17, Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson struggled with his weight. At 5 feet, 7 inches tall, he weighed in at around 250 pounds. “Over the years, I had been made fun of, bullied, talked about, put down, denied certain extracurricular activities, criticized, etcetera because of my weight,” Jackson said. None of that did much to boost his self-esteem or confidence, but eventually he decided to try out for his high school’s basketball team... MORE

Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson, assigned to the 183rd Regional Regiment, Training Institute, weighed 250 lbs at the age of 17 (left), lost 80 lbs and today maintains a high-level of physical and mental toughness through regular and consistent training.

Virginia National Guard commissions 11 new officers
October 21, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 11 new lieutenants to its ranks with the commissioning of Officer Candidate School Class 62 Oct. 18, 2020, in a ceremony held at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

VNG Soldiers compete in pistol marksmanship match
August 27, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. - Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group and the Fort Pickett-based VNG Marksmanship Training Unit combined efforts to host the Excellence in Competition Pistol match Aug. 19, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. A total of 80 service members participated in the event in the hopes of earning the Bronze Excellence in Competition Pistol badge, awarded to the top 10% of shooters... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group compete with the M4 pistol during a competition Aug. 19, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Virginia National Guard welcomes first female infantry company commander
July 28, 2020 — WOODSTOCK, Va. — During a small, socially-distanced ceremony, Capt. Candice Bowen became the Virginia National Guard’s first female infantry company commander when she took command of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Capt. Timothy England July 18, 2020, in Woodstock, Virginia. “It feels… ... MORE

Martin succeeds Hubbard as 183rd RTI commander
July 22, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Col. Charles B. Martin, Jr., took command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institue from Col. Todd H. Hubbard July 19, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, VNG Land Component… ... MORE

183rd RTI hosts final WOCS phase for first time
June 30, 2020 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Eight candidates are now graduates after completing Phase II of the Warrant Officer Candidate School, hosted by the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute June 27, 2020, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The ceremony marked the first time candidates have been promoted to WO1 at the… ... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard command selections announced
June 22, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — Selections for Virginia Army National Guard brigade and battalion commands were made June 19, 2020, by the Adjutant General of Virginia, and June 18 with the release of the results of the annual VaARNG Field Grade Assignment Board. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of… ... MORE

Donations bring important World War II-era artifacts to VNG collection
June 17, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s historical collection has a wealth of new World War II-era artifacts thanks to generous recent donations from a couple different sources. The donations include the personal effects of Maj. Gen. Edward M. Hudgins, who originally enlisted in the the Virginia National Guard’s Company… ... MORE

VNG MFTs offer tips on staying fit while staying hime during pandemic
April 8, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — With gyms closed and sports canceled, the Virginia National Guard’s Master Fitness Trainers are teaming up to provide some tips on staying fit while staying home. “There’s no reason people can’t come out of this more fit,” said Master Sgt. Ramon Abreu-Perez, master fitness coordinator for the… ... MORE

VNG MFTs offer tips on staying fit while staying home during pandemic

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

WOCS candidates experience history in Petersburg
February 26, 2020 — PETERSBURG, Va. — Virginia National Guard warrant officer candidates took a deep dive into history during a visit to the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier and Petersburg National Battlefield Feb. 22, 2020, in Petersburg, Virginia. The candidates toured both sites, along with WOCS cadre, as part of their…... MORE

VDF Cyber Detachment swears in new warrant officers

Ault Obstacle Course dedicated in name of VNG Soldier killed in Iraq
October 30, 2019 — Fort Pickett, Va. — Family, friends and current and former Virginia National Guard Soldiers joined the leadership of Fort Pickett for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the Staff Sgt. Jesse Ault Wheeled Vehicle Obstacle Course Sept. 20, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Ault was killed in action April 9, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while assigned to the 429th Brigade Support Battalion. ... MORE

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