Virginia National Guard

34th CST completes challenging two-day training exercise at SMR
September 3, 2020 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team completed a challenging two-day training exercise August 25 and 27, 2020, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The 34th CST supports first responders during potential hazardous materials incidents involving possible chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threats and can identify unknown substances, assess current and projected consequences, advise an incident commander on response measures and assist with requests for additional state support. During this exercise, the team was presented with a unique scenario involving a mock planned CBRNE attack at a large music festival... MORE

34th CST sharpens response skills during exercise in Maryland
July 29, 2020 — GLEN ARM, Maryland — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team honed their chemical and biological recognition skills during a training exercise July 21-23, 2020, at H Steven Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm, Maryland. 18 of the CST’s Soldiers and Airmen… ... MORE

VNG continues to support state COVID-19 response
May 21, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia National Guard has more than 530 personnel actively working or ready to support the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 response as of May 21, 2020. VNG Soldiers, Airmen, and members of the Virginia Defense Force are conducting numerous missions including sample collection for COVID-19 testing, N95 […] ... MORE

34th CST trained, ready following evaluation
December 11, 2019 — FORT LEE, Va. — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team was evaluated as trained and mission capable after a Training Proficiency Evaluation Nov. 19 and 21, 2019, at Fort Lee, Virginia. The evaluation was conducted by the U.S. Army North’s Civil Support Readiness Group – East, which supervised the exercise and validated the unit’s level of readiness... MORE

34th CST conducts training to prepare for external evaluation
October 1, 2019 — RICHMOND, Virginia—Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted hazardous materials identification and response training Sept. 24, 2019, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, and Sept. 26, at the Prince George Wellness Center in Disputanta, Virginia... 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

34th CST trains with VSP, supports Bush funeral
December 6, 2018 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team continue to balance multi-agency training and real-world support missions after an exercise with the Virginia State Police in early November at Fort Pickett, Virginia, and supporting the state funeral of President George H.W. Bush Dec. 5, 2018, in Washington, D.C... MORE

34th CST conducts multi-state, multi-day exercise
August 24, 2018 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team took part in a joint training exercise Aug. 19-24, 2018, near Edgewood, Maryland. CSTs from Deleware, Maryland, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. also took part in the multi-day exercise designed to enhance their response capabilities by simulating 24-hour operations where teams conducted mission handovers from one team to the next as well as operating in limited visibility conditions. ... MORE

34th CST evaluated as fully mission capable
June 3, 2018 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team was evaluated as fully trained on 12 essential collective tasks after conducting a Training Proficiency Evaluation May 22 and 24, 2018, in Dinwiddie County and Hanover County, Virginia. The evaluation was supervised by U.S. Army North’s Civil Support Readiness Group-East in order to validate the unit’s level of readiness... MORE

Virginia National Guard to host Vigilant Guard emergency response exercise
May 2, 2018 — More than 2,000 National Guard personnel from six states and Washington, D.C., will take part in the Vigilant Guard 18-3 emergency response exercise May 7-10, 2018, at multiple locations in Virginia to improve their ability to respond to a natural disaster and enhance relationships with local, state and federal emergency response partners. The event will simulate a Category 4 hurricane making landfall in Virginia and exercise how the Virginia National Guard would assist in the state’s response with a full mobilization of personnel and coordination to bring in additional National Guard capabilities to help the state’s response effort... MORE

34th CST trains with federal, state and local authorities
September 30, 2017 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team joined members of the FBI, the Virginia State Police and local law enforcement in a scenario-based training exercise Oct. 24, 2017, in Glen Allen, Virginia. The exercise, dubbed Marble Challenge and led by the FBI, aimed to increase cohesion between the participating agencies. The 34th CST is a response force capable of responding to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incident. At the exercise, they provided reconnaissance and decontamination support, assisted in collecting and identifying samples and supported incident command... MORE

Va. Guard briefs Hampton Roads emergency managers on response capabilities
August 10, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provided an overview of the emergency response planning process and static displays of Guard capabilities for the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Committee meeting Aug. 8, 2017, at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The working group meeting provided an opportunity to exchange information regarding responsibilities in emergency management with more than 50 members of the HREMC which includes multiple groups from various organizations including local governments, health departments, private companies and the military. The committee meets monthly at various locations throughout the region and promotes the inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency coordination of emergency management issues and fosters emergency preparedness... MORE

34th CST conducts FTX in Texas, trains on air load plans
July 1, 2017 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Pickett-based 34th Civil Support Team conducted a multi-day training exercise to simulate a response to hazardous materials incident June 22-28, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas. Observer controller/trainers from U.S. Army North’s Civil Support Readiness Group-East/West were on hand to assist with the creation of a realistic scenario and provide feedback to help the 34th CST maintain a high state of readiness for their mission of providing support to first responders in potential biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological and explosive incidents... MORE

Tajikistani officers conduct information exchange with 34th CST
February 24, 2017 — Officers from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense who specialize in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response operations conducted an information exchange with personnel for the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team Feb. 21-22, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exchange was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program that links states and partner nations in support of mutual interests, and their visit also included a tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management... MORE

Virginia Guard supports 58th Presidential Inauguration
January 22, 2017 — Nearly 300 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen joined a force of approximately 7,500 National Guard personnel from across the country supporting the 58th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, D. C. Virginia Guard personnel assisted with traffic control as well as communications, medical and chaplain support, and also provided liaison officers to key military and civilian command headquarters in the area. Additional personnel from the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force conducted mission command and sustainment support in Sandston and other locations in the state and additional troops were on standby... MORE

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