Virginia National Guard

Marines repair Harrier jet engine at Va. Guard aviation facility
October 21, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility hosted a few unusual guests this fall when 14 Marines from the Cherry Point, North Carolina-based Marine Attack Squadron 223 descended upon the hangar to replace the engine of an AV-8B Harrier jet... MORE

203rd RED HORSE helps with AASF improvements
September 3, 2020 — Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, 192nd Wing, completed several improvement projects July 27 – Aug. 7, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. During the two-week project, the RED HORSE engineers removed a large earthen berm to make room Aviators to conduct Army Combat Fitness Tests, as well as made some improvements to the facility’s flight line... MORE

Lewis takes command of VNG aviation battalion
July 28, 2020 — SANDSTON, Va. — Lt. Col. Matthew Lewis took command of Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division during a change of command ceremony held July 26, 2020, at the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility. Maj. Gen. John M. Epperly, 29th Infantry Division Commander, presided over 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

VNG AASF reaches top aviation maintenance readiness level
June 18, 2020 — SANDSTON, Va. — After a thoughtful investment in their people and processes, the Virginia National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility reached the pinnacle of maintenance readiness with 100 percent of their fleet fully mission capable, or FMC. Virginia’s AASF, located in Sandston, Virginia, reached this peak during late spring. Leaders… ... MORE

VA. CoDel sends letter of support for Army Aviation Support Facility funding
January 27, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Army National Guard Jan. 24, 2020, urging that funds needed for a new Virginia National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility in Richmond be prioritized as part of the Future Years Defense Program. The current lease with the... MORE

VNG pilot pops surprise proposal at JMU game
November 13, 2019 — HARRISONBURG, Va. – By the time he started walking toward the James Madison University football field, 2015 alum 1st Lt. Blake Place was already having a pretty great day. He and his fellow Soldiers, all assigned to Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, helped kick off the Nov. 9, 2019, football game with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flyover. Now, it was almost time to propose to Andrea Dargie, his girlfriend of two years. Place wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but his fellow pilots helped him out as they wound their way through the stadium toward the field. They were tailed by a cluster of family members and friends, including Dargie, who had no idea what was coming... MORE

ESGR Boss Lift held for employers of 2-224th Aviation
October 2, 2019 — SANDSTON, Va. — More than 25 employers of Virginia National Guard Soldiers were able to experience the environments their employees work in first-hand during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Boss Lift. The event was hosted by Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division Sept. 7, 2019, near the Richmond International Airport and had employers flying through the skies of Richmond in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and checking out the vehicles, equipment, meals and spaces where their Soldiers work... MORE

Virginia National Guard staged, ready for possible response to Hurricane Dorian
September 5, 2019 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 60 Soldiers and 20 vehicles for state emergency support duty Sept. 5, 2019, in the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads areas, and they are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies respond to potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian. The Soldiers are staged with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks for high water transportation and also have chain saws for debris reduction. The VNG also has two rotary wing aviation rescue hoist crews on standby... MORE

Virginia National Guard staged and ready for possible response to Hurricane Dorian

2-224th Aviation crews conduct aerial gunnery in N.C.
May 15, 2019 — ATLANTIC, North Carolina — More than 50 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division traveled to Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic in Atlantic, North Carolina, to conduct aerial door gunnery from their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters April 4-7, 2019... MORE

VNG leaders tackle ACFT challenge
April 17, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — More than 20 leaders from the Virginia Army National Guard accepted the challenge offered by Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Smith, the Virginia Army National Guard’s state command sergeant major, to take the new Army Combat Fitness Test April 6, 2019, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The ACFT will become the U.S. Army’s official physical fitness test of record in less than two years and the event gave leaders a chance to experience it first-hand... MORE

MEDEVAC Soldiers return from Kosovo deployment
November 6, 2018 — Approximately 25 Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment returned to the United States Nov. 3, 2018, after serving on federal active duty in Kosovo since January. The Soldiers provided aerial medical evacuation support and training to U.S. and allied forces supporting Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo... MORE

Virginia National Guard provides high water transport capabilities in Danville, helicopter rescue on standby
October 12, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard deployed two medium tactical vehicles and four Soldiers to provide high water transport capabilities Oct. 12, 2018, in Danville, Virginia, after heavy rains caused widespread flooding in the area. The Soldiers spent one day on state active duty and assisted local officials with health and welfare checks. A VNG aviation crew of four Soldiers and a team of three Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members were on standby Friday morning in Chesterfield County with the ability to reach Danville in an hour if needed. The VNG aviators and Chesterfield rescue technicians form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to provide rotary wing aviation rescue hoist capabilities that can conduct aerial rescue evacuation... MORE

Transporters, aviators return from support missions in the Carolinas
October 2, 2018 — Virginia National Guard transportation Soldiers returned from supporting Hurricane Florence flood response operations in North Carolina Sept. 24, 2018, and a team of VNG aviators and Chesterfield County rescue technicians returned from South Carolina Sept. 27... MORE

Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team departs for South Carolina
September 22, 2018 — A Virginia National Guard aviation crew of four Soldiers and a team of three Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members departed Sept. 22, 2018, from Chesterfield County, Virginia, to support the South Carolina National Guard with recovery operations after Hurricane Florence caused serious flooding across the state. The VNG aviators and Chesterfield rescue technicians form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to provide rotary wing aviation rescue hoist capabilities that can conduct aerial rescue evacuation in situations where there is potential loss of life, limb or eyesight or significant property damage... MORE

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