Virginia National Guard

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

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

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

Va. flight crews build trust, train with W. Va. special operators
September 3, 2018 — A crowd of spectators started to form as two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters appeared over the tree line and landed along the shore of Lake Erie. It was almost lunchtime on Sept. 5, 2018, and already that morning a small group of Soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard’s 19th Special Forces Group were busy preparing their equipment and getting ready for the day’s training in Hamburg, New York, just south of Buffalo... MORE

Va. National Guard aviation battalion trains around the state
July 10, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division trained on squad and platoon-level proficiency, door gunnery, personnel recovery, downed aircraft recovery and basic Soldier skills from June 2-16, 2018, at sites including Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett and the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Lakota helicopter and crew depart for Southwest Border support
June 7, 2018 — A Virginia National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter with aviation crew departed June 4, 2018, to provide aerial detection and monitoring support for the Arizona National Guard’s mission to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the Southwest Border. The mission is scheduled to last approximately 90 days and could be extended... MORE

MEDEVAC Soldiers prepare for Kosovo deployment
February 2, 2018 — “Superb.” That was Sgt. Ashley Camper’s response when prompted to explain the quality of training she is receiving during her mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas. Camper is one of 26 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Chesterfield-based Detachment 2, Company C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment who are deploying for nine months as part of Kosovo Force 24, the 24th rotation of U.S. Soldiers to support the multinational peacekeeping mission in Kosovo... MORE

MEDEVAC Soldiers depart Virginia in advance of Kosovo deployment
January 8, 2018 — After more than a year of training, approximately 25 Soldiers assigned to Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment said goodbye to the Commonwealth of Virginia and officially began their federal mobilization that will take them to Kosovo in the coming weeks. The Soldiers in the unit gathered along with family members, friends and fellow Soldiers for a departure ceremony Jan. 4, 2018, at the Chesterfield County Airport and then departed in small groups in the days that followed, with the largest group leaving Jan. 5 on four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters... MORE

Va. National Guard helicopters support Hurricane Harvey recovery
September 7, 2017 — The Virginia National Guard sent approximately 40 Soldiers and six helicopters to Texas to assist with Hurricane Harvey recovery operations Aug. 31, 2017, and after transporting medical personnel and supplies, they safely returned to Virginia Sept. 6. With the Texas National Guard shifting operations from search and rescue to critical life support and logistics support, the helicopters and crews were able to return to Virginia to be ready for possible impacts from Hurricane Irma. Three rescue technicians from the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Service Scuba Rescue Team also deployed with the Guard... MORE

Son of fallen Va. National Guard officer enlists on parent’s 20th anniversary
July 30, 2017 — Twenty years after his parents got married and 10 years after losing his father in an Iraq helicopter shoot down, Pvt. Paul David Kelly, 19, raised his right hand and enlisted into the Virginia National Guard July 26, 2017. Col. James Ring, chief of staff for the Virginia National Guard, administered Kelly’s oath in front of his mother, his grandmother, younger brother, a few friends and his recruiters... MORE

Aviation troops recognized for overseas service
July 20, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to two Sandston-based aviation units received the Governor’s National Service Medal July 16, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The medal, created in 2005 by then-Governor Mark R. Warner, recognizes the men and women of the Virginia Army and Air National Guard who have served on federal active duty since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Approximately 40 Soldiers each assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment and Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion were recognized for their recently-completed deployment where they provided rotary wing aviation and aviation maintenance in the U.S. Army Central area of operations from June 2016 to the spring of 2017... MORE

Va. Guard aviation battalion trains at Fort A.P. Hill
June 18, 2017 — For the first two weeks of June 2017, Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment came together at Fort A.P. Hill for annual training. There, the Soldiers focused on improving individual and unit readiness with events including a personnel recovery exercise and machine gun familiarization classes and live fires, and also provided integral air support to a multi-day mortar raid in conjunction with Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

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