Virginia National Guard

Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen shoot at regional match
September 6, 2017 — A group of 14 Soldiers and Airmen participated in a regional marksmanship match Aug. 25-27, 2017, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The match included shooters from two regions – Marksmanship Advisory Council Region I and II – and included approximately 120 shooters. ... MORE

Virginia Guard OCS commissions 29 new officers
August 28, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard welcomed 29 new second lieutenants from Officer Candidate School Classes 59 and 60B Aug. 26, 2017, at a commissioning ceremony held at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, administered the oath of office to the graduates, and Governor Terry McAuliffe and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran joined Williams in congratulating the new lieutenants in earning their commissions and thanking their families for their support. Brig. Gen. Lapthe Flora, Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General for Army Strategic Initiatives, offered advice to the new officers on how to succeed in their upcoming leadership positions... MORE

183rd RTI hosts historic pistol match at Fort Pickett
June 28, 2017 — It was a historic year of firsts for the Virginia National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Pistol Match, held June 23-25, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. A record-setting 72 shooters, from both the Army and Air National Guard, turned up to test their marksmanship skills against some of the best shooters in the state. For the first time in the event’s history, a team from the Air National Guard became the state’s pistol champions and Sgt. Alexandra Wilson, assigned to Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center, became the first female state pistol champion and the first female recipient of the Governor’s Twenty tab... MORE

Virginia National Guard certifies 26 new rappel masters
June 15, 2017 — After five grueling days, 26 active duty, U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers earned their rappel master certification after completing the U.S. Army’s Rappel Master Course, taught by Soldiers of the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute June 5-9, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. ... MORE

Va. Guard Soldiers, Airmen awarded for rifle marksmanship excellence
May 22, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen received awards for their outstanding performance during the Adjutant General’s 2017 Rifle Match May 21, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Sixty-five participants competed in a variety of individual and team events May 19-20, hosted by the Fort Pickett-based 3rd Battalion, 183rd Regional Training Institute. The state-level competition included events such as reflexive fire, an urban assault course, and a course for the Army’s Excellence in Competition badge. All Virginia National Guardsmen are welcome to attend, regardless of rank or prior weapon qualification scores, because it is most importantly a training and sustainment event... MORE

Virginia Guard OCS commissions new officers
April 27, 2017 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Officer Candidate School Class 60A was dressed to impress at their graduation and commissioning ceremony April 22, 2017, in the auditorium of Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute... MORE

Four officer candidates enrolled in the Virginia Guard's Officer Candidate School receive their commissions April 22, 2017, at Fort Pickett's 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute in front of family, friends and Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers and leaders. The candidates heard remarks from Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Assistant Adjutant General of Virginia, before taking their oath of office, affixing their new rank and receiving their first salute as lieutenants from a member of the enlisted ranks. The candidates completed an eight-week National Guard Bureau Accelerated OCS program at Fort McClellan, Alabama which began in February. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Amanda H. Johnson)

Va. WOCS candidates earn top honors in final training phase
April 19, 2017 — After completing a three-phase program to become warrant officers, 10 Soldiers from Virginia stood amongst more than 70 of their peers April 8, 2017, in a ceremony to mark their successful completion of Warrant Officer Candidate School. The ceremony was held at the Alabama Military Academy at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Among the nine graduates from Virginia, most of whom serve in the Virginia National Guard, one was named distinguished honor graduate, two placed on the commandants list and one earned top marks for her physical fitness prowess... MORE

Rappel masters help ChalleNGe cadets overcome fears
April 11, 2017 — Rappel masters of the Fort Pickett-based 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute helped candidates from the Commonwealth ChalleNGe rappel down a 40-foot tower April 8, 2017, at Fort Story, Virginia... MORE

183rd RTI earns “Institute of Excellence” status from TRADOC evaluation
November 15, 2016 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute has been awarded “Institute of Excellence” status by U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and evaluated as full accredited, according to a memorandum dated Nov. 9, 2016, from Gen. David G. Perkins, commander of TRADOC... MORE

183rd RTI hosts open house, demonstrates capabilities
September 24, 2016 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute demonstrated their capabilities during an open house Sept. 24, 2016, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. RTI’s mission is to provide transition training in the infantry, transportation and military police career management fields as directed by the One Army School System, as well as operate the state’s officer and warrant officer commissioning schools... MORE

Virginia Guard marksmen excel at regional, international shooting competitions
August 30, 2016 — A team of Virginia National Guard shooters were recognized as some of the best in the 2016 Marksmanship Advisory Council Region II Regional Marksmanship Sustainment Exercise in both the rifle and pistol competitions Aug. 25-28, 2016, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania... MORE

Zollar takes command of 183rd RTI
June 27, 2016 — Col. James A. Zollar takes command of the Fort Pickett-based 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute from Col. Thomas L. Morgan, III, June 26, 2016, in a traditional change of command ceremony at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General – Army, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Morgan to Zollar... MORE

Candidates, cadre, graduates celebrate OCS 58th birthday
April 26, 2016 — RICHMOND, Va. — Officer candidates, graduates and cadre of the Virginia Army National Guard Officer Candidate School celebrated its 58th birthday with a ceremony April 19, 2016, at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Downtown Campus in Richmond, Virginia. Officer candidates in Class 58, who are scheduled to graduate in August 2016, organized the ceremony, which included the family of Capt. Harry Q. Rose, a graduate of Class VIII who was killed in Vietnam in 1969 and remains the only Virginia OCS graduate to have been killed in action... MORE

Officer candidates, graduates and cadre of the Virginia Army National Guard Officer Candidate School celebrate its 58th birthday with a ceremony April 19, 2016, at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College’s Downtown Campus in Richmond, Virginia. Officer candidates in Class 58, who are scheduled to graduate in August 2016, organized the ceremony, which included the family of Capt. Harry Q. Rose, a graduate of Class VIII who was killed in Vietnam in 1969 and remains the only Virginia OCS graduate to have been killed in action. (Photo by Master Sgt. A.J. Coyne, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs)

Rep. Brat visits, tours Fort Pickett
April 7, 2016 — Rep. Dave Brat visited the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett Maneuver Training Center March 31, 2016. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Lt. Col. Preston Scott, Fort Pickett garrison commander, provided an overview of the installation and its capabilities, then escorted Brat on a tour of the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site, the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute and the Fort Pickett virtual training facility. “It was a pleasure to learn about how these brave men serve,” Brat said on Facebook... MORE

116th IBCT welcomes a diverse group of new leaders
September 24, 2015 — Ten of the freshly-minted second lieutenants from Virginia National Guard Officer Candidate School Class 57 will report to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to begin their officer careers after their commissioning ceremony held Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Pickett, Va... MORE

Second Lt. Erin Noble is one of ten new lieutenants joining the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team after receiving their commissions from Virginia National Guard Officer Candidate School Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Pickett’s 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute.

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