Virginia National Guard

Va. Army National Guard recruiters nab top spots after regional recruiting boards
November 15, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s top recruiters traveled to Bethany Beach, Delaware, Nov. 8-10, 2022, for the opportunity to be named top among their regional peers. At the conclusion of Region II’s Strength Maintenance Advisory Group Conference, Staff Sgt. Sydney Mapp was named the region’s top recruiting noncommissioned officer, or Director’s 54; Master Sgt. Thomas L. Clarke Jr. was named the region’s top section chief, or Expert 7; and Staff Sgt. DeAndre McCall was named runner up for the region’s top rookie... MORE

Leaders from the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion alongside the Virginia’s top recruiters at Region II’s Strength Maintenance Advisory Group Conference Nov. 9, 2022, in Bethany Beach, Delaware. While there, Staff Sgt. Sydney Mapp was named the region’s top recruiting noncommissioned officer, or Director’s 54; Master Sgt. Thomas L. Clarke Jr. was named the region’s top section chief, or Expert 7; and Staff Sgt. DeAndre McCall was named runner up for the region’s top rookie. (Courtesy photo)

Virginia Army National Guard debuts jerseys at Liberty High School football game
November 2, 2022 — Liberty High School’s football team helped the Virginia Army National Guard debut their new football jerseys Oct. 28, 2022, at a home game against John Handley High School in Bealeton, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Dakota Baughan, area Virginia Army National Guard recruiter and a 2006 graduate of Liberty High School, secured the camouflage-patterned, Army National Guard-branded jerseys for Liberty’s use at their military appreciation game. ... MORE

Liberty High School debuts the Virginia Army National Guard’s new football jerseys Oct. 28, 2022, at a home game against John Handley High School in Bealeton, Virginia. Staff Sgt. Dakota Baughan, area Virginia Army National Guard recruiter and a graduate of Liberty High School, secured the jerseys for Liberty’s use at their military appreciation game. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

SMP cadet trains alongside British Army in training abroad opportunity
October 4, 2022 — Cadet Jack Milenski knocked a long-time goal off his bucket list when he spent the spring of his sophomore year training alongside the British Army in the United Kingdom. Milenski, enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program and now a junior at the Virginia Military Institute, experienced a semester abroad at the University of Salford, outside Manchester, England... MORE

Cadet Jack Milenski knocked a long-time goal off his bucket list when he spent the spring of his sophomore year training alongside the British Army in the United Kingdom. Milenski, enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program and now a junior at the Virginia Military Institute, experienced a semester abroad at the University of Salford, outside Manchester, England.

Virginia National Guard installation, brigade and battalion command selections announced
September 28, 2022 — The Adjutant General of Virginia announced officers who have been selected for command in the Virginia National Guard at the instillation, brigade and battalion level... MORE

New Virginia National Guard incentive offering up to $750 for qualified enlistment referrals
September 15, 2022 — The Virginia National Guard is offering up to $750 to Virginia citizens who help grow the force with qualified leads who successfully enlist into the Virginia Army or Air National Guard. The initiative, called the Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, kicks off Sept. 15, 2022... MORE

The Virginia National Guard is offering up to $750 to Virginia citizens who help grow the force with qualified leads who successfully enlist into the Virginia Army or Air National Guard. The initiative, called the Referral Enlistment Program, or REP, kicks off Sept. 15, 2022.

R&R offering up pizza party for top lead-producing unit
July 6, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion is offering up a pizza party for the top lead-producing unit in the state as part of their Summer Slam Challenge. The contest, open to all Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers now through July 31, 2022, challenges units to see which can gather the most qualified leads over the contest period. ... MORE

VNG RRB officially welcomes Johnson to top NCO spot
June 21, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion welcomed Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Johnson as the battalion’s senior enlisted leader in a Change of Responsibility ceremony held June 8, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Johnson was promoted to the rank of sergeant major just before the ceremony and has served in the RRB since 2008, when he came on as a recruiter. ... MORE

The Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion officially welcomes Sgt. Maj. Paul Johnson as the battalion’s top noncommissioned in a change of responsibility ceremony held June 8, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Johnson was promoted just before taking responsibility of the formation and has performed the duties of the senior enlisted leader for the battalion for several months. Following the change of responsibility, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Compton was promoted to master sergeant, and newly-promoted Master Sgt. Thomas Clarke was recognized for his recent promotion as well. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers represent VNG at Region II Best Warrior
June 1, 2022 — Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers competed for the titles of Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during the Region II Best Warrior Competition May 17 - 20, 2022, at Camp Dawson, West Virginia. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers compete for Regional Best Warrior title

SMP cadets hone skills while maximizing benefit usage
May 4, 2022 — Approximately 70 cadets, all enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program, came together to hone their military skills during a multi-day field training exercise held April 22-24, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia... MORE

Cadets enrolled in the Virginia Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program conduct training during a three-day field training exercise held April 22-24, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Over the course of the weekend, the cadets zeroed on the M4 carbine, and focused on basic warrior tasks and battle drills. Approximately 70 cadets from universities across the state participated in the event, which was supported by around 15 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

RSP NCO paves pathway for success for Leesburg area recruits
May 2, 2022 — Ever since he was a kid, Staff Sgt. Shane Williams knew he’d join the military. On his dad’s side, military service dates back all the way to the American Civil War. Since then, his family has served through every major U.S. conflict, excluding the Korean War, and almost everyone served in the U.S. Army. His grandfather was the only exception... MORE

VNG offering professional development experience in Normandy for D-Day
April 26, 2022 — Now through May 8, 2022, the Virginia Army National Guard is inviting up to five Soldiers to join senior leaders for a professional development experience honoring the 78th anniversary of D-Day June 2-10, 2022, in Normandy, France... MORE

Va. Army National Guard expands $20k sign-on bonus
April 12, 2022 — Virginia Army National Guard is now offering $20,000 sign-on bonuses for those who enlist into an expanded number of military occupational specialties. Previously, just one MOS qualified for the top-tier $20,000 bonus, while two additional jobs offered smaller bonus amounts. Now, Soldiers who enlist into one of seven career fields may be eligible for the $20,000 bonus. ... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team fire a ceremonial 19-gun salute with M119A3 105mm howitzers at the inauguration of Dr. Ralph Northam as the 73rd Governor of Virginia Jan. 13, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Bryan Myhr)

229th BEB, RRB Soldiers capture 2022 VNG Best Warrior titles
April 6, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the Recruiting and Retention Battalion claimed top honors at the 2022 Virginia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition April 3, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia... MORE

Va. Beach native first female cav scout in VNG
April 4, 2022 — After 22 weeks of intense training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Pfc. Noor Habr became the first woman in the Virginia Army National Guard to earn the 19D Cavalry Scout military occupational specialty, or MOS. Habr, an Arab American and native of Virginia Beach, decided to join the National Guard after a recruiter visited her school in 2021. As a senior at Bayside High School, she was trying to figure out what her next step would be after graduation... MORE

VNG NCO recounts career moves from band geek to section chief
March 18, 2022 — Master Sgt. Jessica Dickenson started her first job when she was 11. Her parents were lucky to finish high school, she said, and money was tight. Everyone worked. She didn’t know much about the military, didn’t have any sort of family connection to it, but she was still fascinated with the idea of military service. A friend from high school had recently joined the Connecticut National Guard as a musician in the 102nd Army Band. ... MORE

Master Sgt. Jessica Dickenson, center, poses with her team during an awards ceremony with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion June 11, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)

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