Virginia National Guard

Civic Leader Appreciation Day showcases VAARNG to Virginia educators
June 17, 2025 — The Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted its second annual Civic Leader Appreciation Day June 6, 2025, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Approximately 100 teachers, school administrators, and support staff attended the event, where they met senior leaders of the Virginia National Guard, learned information about the organization and opportunities available to their students, and had the opportunity to experience a flight in a Black Hawk helicopter, courtesy of the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Battalion... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan
May 5, 2025 — Three Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conducted a mountain warfare exchange with members of the Tajik military April 21 - 25, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The engagement was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers conduct mountain warfare exchange in Tajikistan

Enlistment marks return of 29th DIVARTY
January 24, 2025 — After nearly two decades, the Virginia Army National Guard celebrated the return of the 29th Division Artillery with the enlistment of Pvt. Tariq Rahaman in a ceremony held Jan. 14, 2025, at the Virginia National Guard Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Col. Shawn Talmadge, commander of the new unit, administered Rahaman’s oath and spoke about the significance of the event... MORE

Johnson succeeds Wynn as Recruiting and Retention Battalion commander
December 9, 2024 — Lt. Col. Eric M. Johnson took command of the Fort Barfoot-based Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion from Lt. Col. Kim D. Wynn during a ceremony Dec. 4, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia... MORE

VNG NCO reflects on her path from border town to recruiting success
September 24, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Diana Hudson spent her earliest years in a rural Mexican border town. Her family’s home, built from wooden pallets, had a dirt floor and no plumbing. Since then, she’s emigrated to the United States, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, started a family, earned an undergraduate degree and, more recently, became one of the top recruiters in the Virginia Army National Guard... MORE

Staff Sgt. Diana Hudson, center, poses with her mentors, Sgt. 1st Class LaTesse Hall, left, and Sgt. 1st Class Gertha Cleveland, right.

Virginia Army National Guard hosts inaugural Civic Leader Appreciation Day
July 31, 2024 — The Virginia Army National Guard held its inaugural Civic Leader Appreciation Day on July 17, 2024, at the Blackstone Army Airfield near Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Approximately 125 teachers, school administrators, and support staff attended the event, which was hosted by the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion... MORE

Fireworks return to Fort Barfoot after 18 years
July 8, 2024 — Fort Barfoot personnel and citizens from across the region attended an Independence Day fireworks celebration July 2, 2024, at the historic Blackstone Army Airfield and Allan C. Perkinson Airport near Blackstone, Virginia... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade hosts students for “capture-the-flag” event
May 29, 2024 — The Virginia National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade and Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted more than 30 students from across Virginia during the inaugural Cyber Fortress 2045 event May 4, 2024, in Fairfax, Virginia. ... MORE

R&R NCO talks leadership, opportunity and guiding the next generation
May 29, 2024 — Sgt. 1st Class Nestor Cordova wasn’t yet serving in the military when someone first thanked him for his service. It was 2011, and he was attending Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and enrolled in the ROTC program there, which required him to sometimes wear a military uniform. ... MORE

VNG hosts ROTC marksmanship match at Fort Barfoot
May 7, 2024 — ROTC cadets from six Virginia universities came together for a marksmanship match hosted by the Virginia National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit, as well as the state’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. The event, held April 19-21, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia, was dubbed the 2024 ROTC College Clash Marksmanship Competition and included 59 cadets from schools including George Mason University, James Madison University, Liberty University, Radford University, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Military Institute... MORE

Virginia recruiters named top in the region after SMAG sweep
December 8, 2023 — Three Virginia Army National Guard recruiters were named top in the region following a meeting of Region II’s Strength Maintenance Advisory Group, or SMAG, Nov. 16, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Sgt. 1st Class David Sanford was named the region’s top recruiting noncommissioned officer, 1st Sgt. Thomas Clarke was named the region’s top section chief, and Staff Sgt. Tyler Voogd was named the top rookie recruiter for 2023. ... MORE

Celebration marks new recruiting storefront in Roanoke
August 15, 2023 — The Virginia Army National celebrated the opening of their new Roanoke-area recruiting storefront with a ribbon cutting and open house Aug. 12, 2023, in Roanoke, Virginia... MORE

First civilian receives payment for VNG Referral Enlistment Program
August 12, 2023 — Michelle Lard received a ceremonial check for $500 as part of her participation in the Virginia National Guard’s Referral Enlistment Program Aug. 6, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Va. recruiters named runners up at national conference
April 18, 2023 — At the Director of the Army National Guard’s Strength Maintenance Conference, Virginia Army National Guard recruiters came in as runners up for both the top recruiter and top section chief in the nation. Staff Sgt. Sydney Mapp took the second place top recruiter spot, called the Director’s 54, while Master Sgt. Thomas Clarke Jr. took the second place section chief, or Expert 7, spot. Over the last decade, this level of excellence has become the standard for Virginia. ... MORE

Master Sgt. Thomas Clarke Jr. (left); Sgt. Maj. Paul Johnson (center), senior enlisted leader for the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion; and Staff Sgt. Sydney Mapp (right) pose together at the Director of the Army National Guard’s Strength Maintenance Conference March 23, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

229th BEB leaders share Guard experiences with high school students
April 6, 2023 — Leaders from the Virginia National Guard’s Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team partnered with the Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion to highlight the benefits of National Guard membership during showcase events April 3 and 5, 2023, at Courtland High School and Colonial Forge High School. The event generated three leads for individuals interested in joining the VNG... MORE

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